Thurrock T-Birds 12, Richmond 21

THE table-topping Championship South visitors took a grip in the early stages of Sunday's (12 January) encounter - played out on the Oakfield artificial pitch - establishing a 14-0 lead but T-Birds were not disheartened and pressed the visitors back.

Richmond resorted to some physical mideameanors with a number of high tackles that ultimately saw them receive two yellow cards and they ended the first half with 13 players on the pitch.

However, Thurrock were not able to take advantage and the visitors held firm.

T-Birds kept knocking on the door though, in a second half frequenlty stopped by injuries.

And their pressure ultimately paid dividends with around 15 minutes to go when replacement Clair Phelps ended a sustained period of pushing Richmond back on their own line by picking up and diving over. Ella Barnes knocked the conversion over to put T-Birds right back in it.

However, they were unable to build on the impetus of the score and within a matter of minutes Richmond, who appeared revitalised by conceding a try, broke through and, from close range, built pressure that ended in a try, which was converted.

Thurrock were to have the final say on the scoreboard with the game's last significant action, when an unselfish pass from Keira Ryan close to the line allowed Jessica Pettafor to dive over.

Barnes' conversion, in the 54th minute of elapsed time, was missed and it brought an end to the game when the deciding factor was probably Richmond's physicality.

You can watch the whole match here:-