The Reds tuned up for the new season by scoring eight tries in the course of a good hit-out for 33 members of the squad.
The visitors didn’t have it all their own way against a home club who will compete in National 1 this season after relegation from the Championship after six seasons in the second tier.
There were just seven minutes on the clock when Russell Bennett sent Scott Van Breda away down the right flank, with the South African showing a good turn of pace to finish in the corner, with Bennett adding the extras.
Within 10 minutes the other members of the back three had got their names on the board as the Reds showed an ability to strike in attack and seize on opponents’ mistakes. Pete Sullivan crossed on debut, then it was fellow wing Ben Woollett.
After James Hadfield crashed over when a home lineout was overthrown, both wings eyed a second try. Sullivan was denied in the left-hand corner as his toe was adjudged to be in touch, but there was no stopping Woollett as he crossed with ease after good approach work by Dan Barnes and Bennett.
The first-half scoring was completed as the hosts broke their duck through Vaughan Bentley’s close-range effort and then Toby Venner darted through a gap for the visitors’ sixth.
After the sky had blackened during the closing stages of the first period, rain was falling by the time the players re-entered the field, with Sullivan the only survivor as 14 new faces were introduced by Harvey Biljon.
The weather played a significant role in the contest thereafter, with the Reds’ count of errors and penalties increasing and Richmond able to stifle most of their opponents’ attacking intent. Scoreless after 30 minutes, the second-half deadlock was broken during the closing stages after Richmond’s Hamish Graham was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on. First Sullivan put fellow new signing Robin Wedlake in for a try on the left, and then Brendan Owen completed a high-scoring day for back-three players by diving over on the opposite flank.
After a weekend off, the Reds will play their first competitive fixture of the season at the same venue, taking on London Scottish in the Premiership Cup on Sunday September 10th. A second away match will follow, against Gallagher Premiership side Bath at the Rec on Saturday September 16th, with the game broadcast live on TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport).
The long-awaited home opener at Stade Santander International will see the Reds take on Exeter Chiefs for the first time on Saturday September 23rd (k-o 2pm).
Richmond (15-9, 1-8): Will Kaye; Max Bliss, Alec Coombes, Hamish Graham (YC 71), Tom Mills; Tom Smith, Matt Marsh; Conor Maguire, David Massey, Jimmy Litchfield, Chris Te Mete, Max Murphy, Ethan Benson, Toby Saysell, Mark Bright.
Replacements: Vaughan Bentley, Luke Spring, Ntinga Mpiko, George Nugent, Tommaso Fricano, Jake Monson, Luc Jones, Rhett Butler, Bill Johnston, Alex Burrage, Ted Landray, Jake Caddy, Conrad Burne, James Whitehouse, Charlie Cadogan.
Jersey Reds (15-9, 1-8): Scott Van Breda; Ben Woollett, Alex McHenry, Dan Barnes, Pete Sullivan; Russell Bennett, James Elliott; Huw Owen, James Hadfield, Monty Weatherby, Alun Lawrence, John Hawkins, Max Argyle, Ciaran Booth, Tim Grey.
Replacements: Toby Venner, Harry Doolan, Sam Grahamslaw, Steve Longwell, Brendan Owen, Robin Wedlake, Charlie Powell, Jordan Holgate, Ben Burnell, James Mitchell, Greg McGrath, Daf Hughes, Adam Nicol, Joe Peard, James Scott, Thom Smith, Lewis Wynne, Hallam Chapman.
Half-time: 7-38
Referee: Alex Thomas. Assistants: Ian Bibey, James Clarke
Attendance: 400
Scorers
Richmond
Try: Bentley 36
Conversion: Landray 36
Jersey Reds
Tries: Van Breda 7, Woollett 11, 30, Sullivan 16, Hadfield 21, Venner 40, Wedlake 72, Owen 77.
Conversions: Bennett 7, 11, 30, 40, Barton 77
