29/03/08

civil service 7 richmond 24

On the face of it the result says Richmond won by a margin but the truth was they had to struggle hard against Civil Service and were fortunate to have had a bit of luck that goes the way of a side at the top of the league. The weather was very difficult with a strong wind and driving rain making the conditions tricky for both teams. Richmond supporters anticipating an easy game for their team were soon beginning to realise their team were in for a tough physical encounter and a long afternoon. Civil Service had a game plan for the conditions and stuck to it very well much to the moaning of certain of the Richmond camp followers. Indeed the play was so close that Richmond only managed to score their first try after 20 mins and after Civil Service had lost a player to a yellow card for a technical infringement, in truth being too competitive for the referee, who was to prove that throughout the game 0-7. The game continued with Civil Service showing great determination to regain or retain the ball whilst moving up the field of play. Forcing the game is always likely to attract the referee and on 30 mins he awarded a penalty for holding onto the ball in the tackle 0-10. During this period the penalty count was rising as the referee controlled the players and with several blood injuries by now, the swopping of players and further yellow cards for both sides the half became extended and in the 46 min Richmond were awarded a penalty try as Civil Service while under pressure defending were adjudged to have infringed 0-17.
Civil Service started the second half with the same ferocity as the first half pressuring the Richmond defence as Civil Service set up camp in their 22. As the pressure built Richmond were being forced to infringe to protect their try line, remarkably no penalty try unlike earlier and ending with drive over try disallowed by a referee claiming ball held up whilst looking at the wrong players. Richmond clearly relieved took the scrum and were able to clear the line, Civil Service continued with that momentum and forced the play back to the try line and scored a good forwards try 7-17. As the game moved into the last quarter Civil Service battled hard and snuffed out any Richmond attacks and frustrated the Richmond players finally they attracted the attention of the referee and a yellow card was issued. A flurry of substitutions and blood repairs and yellow cards ensued and as the teams settled down Civil Service were resolute in their defence, at a line out a Civil Service adjudged to have infringed and as a second offence the prop left the field permanently in the 71st min. This was a great shame for both teams as it removed the forwards battle which had been a feature of the game both teams down to fourteen players at this point, a wide kick from Richmond and a generous call from the official gave the advantage the Richmond on the 81st min and a final try by Richmond Scrum half 7- 24 Civil Service continued to battle deep into the extended injury time not allowing Richmond to relax.
Richmond are certainly to be congratulated for their season but Civil Service deserve to be applauded for their willingness to take the game to Richmond only losing by 2 tries (1 penalty try) first half and one all in the second half not many sides have achieved that against them.