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Dings Crusaders got off to a great start in their opening National league Two South match against promotion candidates Richmond despite being forced into late changes when unfortunate second row Darren Jefferies broke his leg in the warm up. Jefferies would have been making his first team debut for the Lockleaze club after his summer move from Somerset Premier out fit Chew Valley.

Richmond made the better start and opened the scoring in the second minute with a penalty by full back Matt Hart. The signs looked ominous for the home team early on when the normally reliable Dings fly half Adam Westall, missed two relatively straightforward pots at goal. A further Hart penalty extended the visitors lead before Dings began play with more tempo and continuity. Pressure at the scrum by the Dings front row enabled scrum half Ricky Jones to gather the loose ball and pounce for a try on 28 minutes.

Back came Richmond five minutes later when the home side failed to deal with a chip over the top allowing wing Alistair Simmie to score out wide. Hart added a further penalty on 38 minutes before Westall grabbed an injury time try and conversion to keep the home side in touch at the break.

Five minutes into the second period replacement hooker Rich Thomas barged over and Westall’s conversion made it 19-14 to Dings. But Richmond came back again to level the scores when lock Henry Head dived in following a rolling maul.
Both teams worked hard in the tight exchanges with Dings prop Chas Meddick being the pick of the bunch, earning him the Gaymers Cider man of the match award.

It always looked like it would take something special to separate these two teams and it came in the 63rd minute. Richmond were on the attack but turned the ball over in contact which allowed Dings to moved it through the hands to promising centre Alistair Crombie who ghosted in to score under the posts. The young back from Barnstable was clearly delighted to score on his first team league debut for the club. Westall converted to make it 26-19. Richmond hit back with another Hart strike but Westall closed the game out by landing another three points securing the victory for Dings.

Dings Tries Jones, Westall, Thomas, Crombie
Pens Westall
Cons Westall 3

Richmond Tries Simmie, Head
Pens Hart 4

Match Report by John White of the Bristol Independent