Rugby Union: Quins' pockets picked clean by Goodburn: Triumph for Richmond poacher

Richmond. . . .49

Harlequins. . .24

THEY call him the poacher in these parts and they are not kidding, Giles Goodburn keeping this game firmly in Richmond's grasp with four tries, three of them in the second half, at the Athletic Ground yesterday. And festive fare it was, too, Harlequins well stuffed but still contributing to a spirited meeting that produced over 70 points.

'You can see where he gets his nickname,' Vinny Codrington, Richmond's director of rugby, said after Goodburn had completed his hat-trick following another kick and chase. Just for good measure, the centre then stole the ball off David Currie to complete his afternoon's work. With this guy around it would be advisable to check your pockets.

The Richmond programme had thanked Brian Moore for visiting the club before Christmas 'to sign all the mini players' photographs'. Quins, though, were less fortunate when it came to raising a side, the England hooker just one of many regulars taking a well-earned breather in a long, hard winter.

Which left Richmond, second in the Third Division, with a distinct edge against their visitors from the First. Never mind, because there was no shortage of entertainment for a large holiday audience. Indeed, Quins set the ball rolling with a try in the second minute from Rob Jardine-Brown.

So at least it was not all one-way traffic and there was some satisfaction for Jamie Salmon, the Quins general manager. 'Just keep an eye on Robert Leach,' Salmon had said, and if he was fishing for compliments then they were due, the former Durham University flanker underlining his promise with two tries against the tide.

Stopping Goodburn, though, was a different matter entirely because he kept turning up to embarrass Quins. They should have got the message in the 11th minute when a move broke down in the Richmond half, Goodburn then hacking on over 75 yards and winning the race for the touchdown.

And as if that was not enough, Jason Hoad, who began at full-back and moved to stand-off when James Barker was led away dazed, kicked just about everything on offer: two penalties, a drop goal and five conversions for a haul of 19 points. Great for Richmond, tough on Quins.

Richmond: Tries Goodburn 4, Rowe, Thompson; Conversions Hoad 5; Penalties Hoad 2; Drop goal Hoad. Harlequins: Tries Jardine-Brown, Leach 2, Keyter; Conversions Madderson 2.

Richmond: J Hoad; P Greenwood, G Goodburn, M Hutton, N Dontoh; J Barker (J Makin, 15), E Rowe; D Sinclair, S Miller, M Yeldham, R Sterry, G Sage, L Jones, D Thompson, P Della-Savina (capt).

Harlequins: C Madderson; A Pinnock, J Keyter, D Currie, M Molyneux; R Butland, C Luxton (capt); B Fennell, P Simmonds, N Collins, D Thresher, D Simpson, R Leach, I Desmond, R Jardine-Brown.

Referee: R Quittenton (Rustington).