A controversial last minute try by visitors Richmond RFC snatched a perhaps deserved victory from DMPRFC, who arguably played all the best rugby in this game.

Last season, Richmond RFC played their rugby in the RFU Championship, which they had done since promotion from National League One at the end of the 2015/16 season.

Relegated last season finishing at the foot of the league, they have been embroiled in an unsavoury, but legitimate battle with the RFU over the validity of Championship side Leeds Carnegie’s credentials to remain in that league, when considering their financial dealings.

Anyway, to the rugby and having scored 37 points, including 5 tries in a home, it wouldn’t be wrong of the discerning enthusiast to expect that this would be a winning points total.

However, DMPRFC were given a harsh lesson in game management, which they will need to learn from in the coming season.

Prior to the start of game, a minutes applause was signalled by the official in charge and undertaken by the appreciative crowd in attendance, in recognition of the Great North Air Ambulance Service and in memory of former Mowden player and gentleman Charley Purkiss-McEndoo, who tragically passed away earlier this year and who is sadly missed by family, friends and all connected to the MowdenFamily.

DMPRFC’s match day squad contained a mixture of retained players (13), new signings (6) and a dual registered player.

The home side started positively and immediately put the visitors under pressure with a fast and determined pace. Initially, the visitors repelled the onslaught, with some hard tackling defence. However, centre Ben FRANKLAND forced open a gap near to the touchline, passing to prop Alfie BARRON in support, who carried the Richmond defender over the line for the score. (5 – 0). Centre Warren SEALS attempt at the extras drifted just wide.

Two needless penalties were next conceded by DMPRFC, allowing the Richmond full back Robert KIRBY to showcase his metronomic kicking skills to onlookers, slotting both with consummate ease, allowing the visitors into the lead, without any particular effort. (5 – 6)

Just before the end of the first quarter, Richmond turned the screw at a 5-metre scrum and in the resulting melee, prop James LITCHFIELD pounced and forced his way over near the posts, (5 – 11), KIRBY kicked his easiest points of the day with the conversion. (5 – 13)

As the game entered the second quarter, again DMPRFC conceded another needless penalty, KIRBY again successfully serving up the points for his side. (5 – 16)

Undaunted, DMPRFC swept back into action, when league debutant scrum half Euan McKIRDY and dual registered lock William MONTGOMERY combined to make sufficient progress into opposition territory, to allow wing Callum MACKENZIE evading tacklers to score, after accepting a scoring pass from prop BARRON. (10 – 16). This time SEALS was spot on with the conversion. (12 – 16).

It wasn’t long before Richmond regained the lead, when after giving away another penalty, added to by some ill discipline with the ignominy of being marched another 10-metres closer to the home line, the home side were caught devoid of short side cover, allowing flanker Andrew BOYCE to sprint in unopposed down the touchline, carrying on the run further towards the posts, (12 – 21) again allowing KIRBY to add to his tally with consummate ease. (12 – 23).

For the next ten minutes until oranges, DMPRFC applied massive pressure on the visitors line, with a series of multiple pick and drives and on two occasions, were held up close to the line. However, Richmond held out and took a healthy lead into the changing rooms.

Within 5 minutes of the restart, replacement lock Miles SCOTT was sin-binned for a high tackle. However, whilst reduced in numbers, DMPRFC were only able to add a SEALS penalty to their tally, (15 – 23) which Richmond’s KIRBY quickly cancelled out with another flawless penalty kick of his own. (15 – 26).

DMPRFC then produced the ‘purple patch’ of the game, when in a 9-minute period, home winger Shaun McCARTNEY burst into action and showed his powerful potential, scoring three consecutive tries, two of which were converted by SEALS.

The first of the three, found the winger in his usual spot, on the end of a flowing move, resulting in a corner score, (20 – 26), added to by SEALS (22 – 26). McCARTNEY’s second and best try, was an individual effort from 35 metres out, evading hapless defenders in his wake, to score near the posts, (27 – 26), which SEALS again converted. (29 – 26). His hat-trick was completed after some good penetrative work from FRANKLAND, allowing McCARTNEY to take the pass and barge over for the score. (34 – 26). SEALS just missed the conversion.

With the game now entering the last ten minutes, DMPRFC held a healthy lead that required at least two scores from the visitors and calm heads were necessary to see out the game.

However, from the restart, DMPRFC failed to control the ball, allowing Richmond to take advantage and launch an immediate attack. Soon the visitors were ‘knocking on the door’ of DMPRFC’s red zone and after a concerted series of pick and drives, prop LITCHFIELD scored his second (34 – 31) and the visitor’s third try, setting up a frenetic last few minutes, after another successful addition from KIRBY (34 – 33).

Home supporters were buoyed, when DMPRFC launched back at the visitors, winning a penalty, which SEALS kicked (37 – 33) to add to their lead.

So, as the games edged towards the final whistle, a clean restart catch and short period of pick and drives from the forwards, would have registered a great win for the home side.
However, again the restart was not secured, giving Richmond the impetus required to go for an all out attack. As the game ebbed away, Richmond attacked the line, but were repelled ferociously by a solid defence. The last play took the visitors over the line, but the referee, right on top of proceedings, was unsighted. He received communication from the attending assistant, who from some distance away, saw what the referee didn’t, giving the nod to him to award the score, replacement hooker Callum TORPEY accredited with the touchdown. (37 – 38). KIRBY fittingly recorded his 100% accuracy for the day with the afters, (37 – 40), with the visitors celebrating an unlikely victory at the death.

A superb game of rugby however, enjoyed by all in attendance.

DMPRFC SQUAD
15. Paul JARVIS
14. Callum MACKENZIW
13. Ben FRANKLAND
12. Warren SEALS
11. Shaun McCARTNEY
10. Callum IRVINE (Benjamin DIXON, 56)
9. Euan McKIRDY
1. Alfie BARRON
2. David NELSON (Joseph DUFFY, 73)
3. Ralph APPLEBY (Ignas DARKINTIS, 51)
4. William MONTGOMERY (Daniel GRANGE, 64)
5. Joseph CRAGGS
6. David FISHER
7. George STOKES
8. Oliver HODGSON

Replacements Not Used: Oliver WALKER

DMPRFC SCORING

Try: BARRON (6), MACKENZIE (25), McCARTNEY (60, 63, 68)
Conversion: SEALS (26, 61, 64)
Penalty: SEALS (46, 78)
Drop Goal: None
Penalty Try: None
Yellow Card: None
Red Card: None

RICHMOND RFC SQUAD

15. Robert KIRBY
14. Toby EATON
13. Cameron MITCHELL
12. Ronald McLEAN-DENTS
11. Hamish GRAHAM
10. Louis DENNETT
9. James GIBBS (Toby DABELL, 69)
1. Timothy WALFORD (David BANFIELD, 62)
2. Ross GRIMSTONE (Callum TORPEY, 69)
3. James LITCHFIELD
4. Byron HODGE
5. Alexander BIBIC (Myles SCOTT, 31)(Alexander BIBIC, 62)
6. Jacob PARKER
7. Andrew BOYCE (James CATLIN, 56)
8. James CATLIN (Thomas PASHLEY, 40)

Replacements: All Used

RICHMOND RFC SCORING

Try: LITCHFIELD (19), BOYCE (30), LITCHFIELD (72), TORPEY (80)
Conversion: KIRBY (20, 30, 73, 80)
Penalty: KIRBY (9, 12, 23, 51)
Drop Goal: None
Penalty Try: None
Yellow Card: Myles SCOTT (45)
Red Card: None

Referee: Mr Alex THOMAS
Referee's Assistants: Brendan FITZMAURICE, Paul FINCKEN

Attendance: 1,011

NEXT WEEK - 1ST XV - HULL IONIANS RFC (A)