Taunton 14 Richmond 29

Sometimes there needs to be some luck in the game and sometimes influences outside your control seem to go against you and for many who stop and think about this and were at the game, they will understand this sentiment. Taunton four times charged down a Richmond kick and each time it bounced directly into another Richmond players hands.  Immediately from the kick off Richmond got to the ball and contested the jump for it however Taunton were penalised and from the resultant kick to the corner won the lineout, rolled the maul and their hooker scored the opening try after only 1 minute 38 seconds of the game.  This was converted and suddenly Taunton were seven points behind.  Taunton did not have their hands on the ball until 7 minutes andthen only with their hooker throwing into the lineout which they lost, and so Richmond to dominate possession for the first 20 minutes, and it was only through Richmond’s own mistakes and some outstanding tackling by Taunton, and in particular “man of the match Ben Oliphant-Thompson” that Taunton had any possession.  Taunton were amassing their penalty count, having given away3 in the first six minutes and ten in the first half as a whole.  On the20-minute mark Richmond converted one of these penalties to give them a10-point lead.  Taunton responded accordingly and at last gained some possession, and on their first visit to the Richmond 22 Taunton showed their true ability with Charlie Wright scoring a try which was converted. Taunton seemed to be putting more phases together and missed opportunities and so it was no surprise when on 31 minutes, against the run of play, from a break on the right of the pitch The Richmond right wing went in for a Richmond try.  Whilst Taunton had more possession and opportunity, they could not cross the Richmond line and so the half finished with Richmond leading Taunton15 points to 7.

The second half started with Taunton camping in the Richmond half and Richmond giving away penalties.  Taunton were rewarded for their pressure on 44 minutes with a try by their centre Toby Clinch which was converted and so they were within just a point.  Several promising moves seemed to be penalised and so Taunton gave away their dominance through easy mistakes allowing Richmond to clear their line.  Taunton again were punished by these mistakes when on 54 minutes another Richmond Try, again from a penalty to the corner and a rolling maul from the lineout which with the conversion moved them to eight points in front.  Whilst Taunton did produce some very good rugby it was the penalties which again was their downfall allowing Richmond to score a try in the dying embers of the game and giving them a try bonus point.  According to the signals from the referee, of the twenty penalties awarded against Taunton they were for 14 different types of offence and only three for a high tackle.  Richmond gave away eight penalties of which 4 were for high tackles.  Referees are becoming stricter with the high tackle law for the safety of the players.  Whilst Taunton may have lost the game, Richmond commented that it was their best performance of the season so far and had to be against a very good Taunton side.

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