Richmond 34 Wharfedale 24: Plus points for Greens but they fail to spoil the hosts’ party

At one stage it seemed as if Richmond were going to have a walk in their own park, but in the end Wharfedale emerged with great credit and can look back on what might have been, their starting line-up depleted through other commitments and their finishing line-up depleted though injury.

Richmond, after conceding Wharfedale early territorial advantage, took the lead when reliable full-back Tom Platt kicked a penalty from an infringement at a ruck.

A powerful run by influential No 8 Harrison Edwards ripped open the visitors’ defence for a fine try for James Greenwood.

One minute later the same winger was intruding in midfield to make a try for centre Will Browne, before once again finishing a try of his own on the half-hour in a fast counter-attack from turnover ball deep in the Richmond half against the 14 men of Wharfedale, Alastair Allen left cooling his heels in the bin.

So without having had any territorial advantage Richmond’s exciting counter-attacking had given them a 20-0 lead and they were now looking forward to a big win on their National One debut.

By half-time it had all changed – a 34th-minute turnover in the Wharfedale half, slick passing to the overlapping winger Christian Georgiou, swift drawing of defenders and a cleverly-weighted chip over the top brought him his first try in his new colours. On the cusp of half-time Georgiou’s searing break left the defence floundering, and he scored under the posts for a try whose conversion was this time unmissable. The Greens trailed 20-12 at half-time.

Having spurned the opportunity of three easy points in a bid for seven, only to have it rebuffed by Richmond’s growing pack, the hosts scored two tries firstly through a catch-and-drive and another in the 69th minute for centre Tom Gregory

Wharfedale’s Pierce Phillips, concussed in the eighth minute of his Wharfedale debut, had departed the ground in an ambulance, and they saw out the remaining minutes with only 13 men as Hart (knee) and Druce (shoulder) were injured, with all replacements having been used by head coach Tommy McGee.

Stand-in captain Chris Steel led a brave rally in which the Greens scored twice, first though flanker Tyson, also on his league debut, and through a penalty try by their outnumbered pack.