Resurgent Richmond too strong for the 2s

After three solid victories since the start of the new year, it was back down to Hurlingham for the 2s, bringing a much‑changed side compared to the team that played Horsham last week. During the warm‑up, the line‑outs were moving well and the backs’ moves were flying. After some precise words from Nugget and Olly, the 2s were ready to fight.

The whistle blew and the 2s were bearing down on Richmond. After some excellent distribution to the forwards from scrum‑half Ben May, the 2s drew a penalty. Mitch Currie slotted it over for three, and the Hammers were ahead. Sadly, after this excellent start, the wind changed for the 2s and they were pinned back in their own half. Richmond sniffed out a few gaps in the Hammers’ defence and ran in a couple of tries.

The 2s might have been down, but not out. After some excellent running pod work from the likes of Lucas Sopher and Will Denny, the 2s earned another kickable penalty, which went over for another three points.

The half ended with the ******** trailing 6–14. With some quick words from the coaches about shoring up their defence during the break, the 2s were back out.

The shoring up of the defence didn’t happen quickly enough, and a couple of quick tries from Richmond put them further ahead. Still, the ******** had fight left in them and roared back into action. The defence improved, with some big hits from Kioko Searle‑Mbullu and captain Jack Macgregor.

With the 2s putting pressure on the Richmond attack, they coughed up the ball and away the ******** went. With excellent running from the whole team, the 2s finally managed to get over the line. Captain Jack Macgregor grabbed the five points, with the previously infallible boot of Currie adding the extras.

This momentum faltered and Richmond were back on the front foot. Still, the ******** fought on, valiantly defending with all their hearts. Even with Ben Bradshaw and Robert Harris coming off the bench to bring much‑needed support to the scrum, and an excellent tackle from Niall Officer on the wing, it wasn’t enough to stop the inevitable.

Richmond managed to score a brace of tries before the 2s were able to get the ball back in hand. However, keeping possession made all the difference and opened up the centre‑field attacking threats of Kristian Thomson and Eoin Baker. Some quick ball allowed James McKendry to get it down in the corner.

It was up to Mitch for the conversion, but with his ‘groin gone’ from all the kicking, and Richmond misunderstanding the rules and forcing a re‑kick, it became Currie’s first and only miss of the game.

Still, the 2s were hungry for more. With the referee indicating two minutes on the clock and the possibility of a win slipping away, the ******** pressed on with sheer grit and determination. They stormed into Richmond’s 22 and looked ready to apply real pressure.

The calls of ‘river’ went up from the half‑backs and the first pod drove forward, making ground. The ball was recycled quickly and the next pod followed. But alas, it was not meant to be. A knock‑on somewhere in the fray saw the referee blow the whistle, and it was all over.

Beaten, but never defeated, the ******** look forward to righting the wrongs in the coming weeks.