A SPARKLING first-half display from Richmond saw them ease past Darlington Mowden Park 33-17 as the visitors moved back within a point of Rams at the top of the table.

Chidera Obonna and Will Goffey both touched down twice to secure the try bonus-point, four Callum Greive conversions making it 28-0 at the interval.

Basement side DMP showed heart and got on the board through scrum-half Ben Douglas, albeit replacement Alex O’Meara then went over for the Londoners.

Mowden kept going, however, and Talite Vaioleti collected a couple of consolation scores, Junior Newton adding to the first.

Esher made it back-to-back wins as their 31-24 away day triumph at Birmingham Moseley lifted Peter Winterbottom’s side eight points clear of the bottom two.

An Owen Waters try put the visitors in front before Tighe Maxwell-Whiteley levelled, the fly-half then doubling up to nudge Mose in front.

Tommy Taylor’s conversion made it 12-5, but the scores were again level at the break as Sam Morley added to a Sam Westmacott effort.

Harry Faulkner crossed for the Eees before Birmingham went back in front, Taylor on target after Ethan Priest touched down.

Yet the lead changed hands again thanks to a converted Tom Spiers score, Dan Brough’s try for Mose levelling things in the 75th minute.

However, Esher grabbed a crucial injury-time match-winner through Connor Ganley, Morley with the extras.

A sixth straight win for Plymouth Albion saw the Devonians climb to fifth in the table, their 20-17 success at Leicester Lions leaving the hosts in relegation strife.

An early Craig Duncan try put Albion in front, but Lions equalised midway through the second quarter as Ollie Taylor powered over.

Ben Moa restored Plymouth’s lead, Tom Putt with the extras, but a Jake Sterland score shortly before the break cut the deficit to two points.

Leicester got themselves in front four minutes into the second half, Luke Bouchier on target after Malelili Satala crossed, but Albion took the spoils thanks to a Rhys Williams five-pointer and Putt penalty.

Rams, meanwhile, just about stayed top after claiming two bonus-points in a 25-22 loss at Sale FC.