The weeklong build up to the game boded well for the Richmond R.F.C. Historically in the playoff race when the 2nd division is in the playoffs and the 1st division is out, attendance at practice seems to lag. This year was different however, with all of the 2nd division team and lots of 1st division players as well. Having a team to practice against is imperative leading up to a playoff game, and the coaching and management staffs were very appreciative to have those 1st division players out.
The weather called for rain, but fortunately it held off until the 1st division game started. The warm-up started a little lackluster and it seemed like there were some playoff jitters emanating from both players and spectators. For those off you who watched last weeks slow start this week wasn’t much better. Abbotsford came out fast and furious, quickly rucking and running trailer ball off of the scrumhalf. They were spinning the ball wide and attacking the backs as well. The initial onslaught was stymied, but after 3 or 4 missed tackles they were able to score in the corner with a winger. Cheers from the Abby sidelines and shouts of it’s already over strengthened the resolve of the Richmond squad. On the ensuing kickoff and play Abbotsford went back to the forwards for its attack. This is where things started to go wrong for the club from the Bible belt. Their other half of the team, the backs, weren’t as well drilled and skilled as their forwards. They started to elect to kick the ball deep. On the first attempt, Graham Haigh fielded the ball at his 40-meter line and proceeded to make mincemeat of the Abby defense, just like he used to do in his old high school days. Haigh hooked up with Eric Woods who took the ball
up the wing and then passed it back to Haigh for the score.
The second score went to Richmond as well. Unable to get the ball out to his backs quickly, mainly due to some dubious no calls on offside Abbotsford forwards, Malchy turned to the kicking game. Several high balls resulted in a couple of knock-ons and a couple of devastating hits on Abby players, one even having to leave the game to injury.
Richmond would drive the ball up in the forwards, and when enough players had been tied up, Brandon Sims would run the ball into the Abby backfield. Eventually, British forward Pat Sherratt, would tally one for the forward pack in the corner. Richmond would take the lead 10-5.
Not to be outdone however Abby would take the next couple of minutes setting up for the next score. After some excellent Richmond pressure Abby was started to kick the ball. It was a back and forth kicking game until Abby’s full back put up a high ball into the Richmond 22. Unable to field the ball Abby attackers scampered down and retrieved the ball for a score under the posts.
This would pretty much be the last mistake that Richmond would make that would lead to any Abbotsford points.
Brandon Sims, inside centre, had a stormer of a game both offensively and defensively. Just minutes after Abby scored on the up and under Sims would take the ball at half-way and outpace and out muscle the defense to score in the corner, giving Richmond a 15-10 halftime lead.
The one thing that the coach remarked about at the end of the game is the fact that we had enough subs who were rested and had not already played a game. Several individuals came in to bolster the squad when others were injured or needed to come off. This definitely helped us in the second half.
The second half remained a relatively tight game. Abby continued to try and pound the ball up with their forwards, but gains were minimal, as Richmond’s defense was stifling. Richmond, on the other hand, decided to run some of their forwards into the Abby backline. Richmond was eventually rewarded for it’s hard work when Tim Ross picked the ball off of a ruck, committed his man, and passed the ball to Ehrich Falkenhagen for the score.
Richmond continued to pressure, driving down to the Abby line, again and again. Every time however, they were called for some type of penalty five meters out from the line. Abby trying to catch Richmond out of position, tapped the ball quickly every time and tried to spin the ball wide. Fortunately for Richmond they would kick the ball deep to try and pressure Richmond’s wingers and fullback. They were up to the task and countered effectively.With time running out Abby was pressing. Richmond was awarded a lineout on their own 22 meter line. The ball went back to the #10 who was given advantage for an Abby flanker bearing down on him offside. He sidestepped the flanker and popped the ball to a shouting winger, Bryan Tyrer on his right side. Tyrer took the ball to the 50 meter line, and offloaded to Brandon Sims in support. A quick ruck, pick and go, and the ball was fired out to the backs. The ball went quickly through the hands of Malchy, Tang, Haigh, and landed in Jagjot Dhaliwal’s hands who outpaced his opposite number to score. Richmond 25 Abbotsford 12.
So, we’re off to the show again. For the second time in three years, Richmond is returning to the 2nd division provincial championship at Brockton oval. Game time is still to be decided but will be somewhere between 12 and 1 on Saturday May 9th. Ironically this also coincides with our end of the year banquet.
Hope to see you all there,
Jon Malchy
