Newly-promoted Farnham felt the full power of the Richmond machine on Saturday in the top-of-the-table clash at the Athletic Ground.

Second-placed Farnham came into the match full of confidence after an excellent week on the training ground, but were quickly silenced by a terrific display of power and control from a young Richmond side who look to be on an unstoppable march back to the higher London divisions and beyond.

What they lacked in size they made up for in dynamism and excellent support play. From the start, Richmond were spinning the ball wide, with their backs aligned very steeply to take the ball at pace once they reached the gain line.

Farnham were run ragged, but always re-grouped just in time to make the final tackle. They even managed a number of turnovers in these early exchanges.

The Farnham pack was stable, but didn't dominate as had been expected. Farnham did miss the big-hitting lock duo of Simon France and Gavin Baker in their efforts to break the gain line and add the extra stone or two. The lineout was a disappointment, with Richmond stealing close to half Farnham's ball, and winning all of their own through their lock, Henry Head.

These factors all combined to produce a one-sided first 30 minutes and a scoreline of 19-0.

Farnham did have a good spell of their own, when they stuffed the ball up their jumpers and took on Richmond in the tight game. But with a mobile and strong pack to beat, they couldn't produce that final phase of play to release the backs.

Nigel Rooney kicked a penalty before the interval, but there was no try to inspire the visitors.

Farnham again had a strong first five minutes in the second half, but lost the ball in a tight phase of driving and, in a trice, it was in Richmond's hands and winger Arthur Irving had scored under the posts.

This set Farnham back and although there was no faulting their effort, there was a distinct lack of direction to their play.

Late on, when the game was well out of reach, the pack again took on their opponents with some success, but never really looked like scaring the league leaders.

Richmond come to Farnham on December 22 for the return fixture. How will they fare in the Wrecclesham mud in front of a partisan crowd?

The game could be ever so slightly closer ...

Farnham: Cranstone, Christie, Mortimore, Falkiner, Debenham (Thompson), Oakley, Brown, Holwill, Rooney, Lewis, Merritt (Wiltshire), Doran, Heath, Southwood, I Jarrett, Sub (not used) Van Dongen.