The hosts took an early lead as Dan Powell converted Harrison Langworthy’s fourth-minute try, the fly-half then adding to his own score after Callum Grieve landed a penalty for the Londoners.

From 14-3 down Richmond took control before the break, Grieve on target following tries from James Langston, Chidera Obonna and Alex O’Meara for a 10-point interval lead.

Jimmy Litchfield was next to cross for the away side, but Stortford hit back through Alex Gilham.

Grieve added the extras to a Sam Dardis’ effort to move ‘Mond 36-19 in front, but the hosts again hit back as Powell converted a Josh Stannard try.

Home hopes were scuppered by Lewis Dennett grabbing a seventh for Richmond, though, Grieve again on target, meaning Murray Davidson’s late score was merely a consolation.

A superb first-half display helped third-placed Rotherham Titans win 30-19 at Birmingham Moseley.

Tries from James Cooke and Ronnie du Randt, allied to 10 points from the prolific boot of Lloyd Hayes, gave the northerners a 20-0 half-time lead, Mose getting on the board just after the break as Jack Jolly converted a Santiago Edwards five-pointer.

Hayes kicked another penalty for 23-7, and he was again on target after Callum Bustin touched down.

Birmingham kept going, but tries from Lawson Porter and Dan Brough were not enough, Jolly converting the first.

Rosslyn Park’s fifth straight win lifted them to fourth in the table on the back of a 48-24 success at Leicester Lions.

Park hit the front as Josh Bragman converted a Josh Martin try, Leicester replying through Rafe Witheat and Luke Bouchier for 7-7.

Yet Bragman added to his own try and one from James Corden-Reddy before slotting a penalty, two late first-half scores from James Stubbs and Reuben Logan, coupled with a Bouchier kick, keeping Lions in the game at 24-19.

Park got going after the interval, though, with Martin doubling up before Benji Marfo bagged a brace, another Bragman kick and one from Steffan James making it 43-19.

Lions salvaged a try-bonus as Jake Sterland touched down a minute from time, but Rosslyn had the final word as Ewan Fenley did the same at the other end.

Resurgent Blackheath are up to fifth following their 36-22 triumph at Sedgley Park.

The hosts came flying out of the blocks to lead 12-0 thanks to tries from Matt Riley and Rhys Henderson, Ollie Glasse with a conversion on his 150th appearance.

Club levelled thanks to two Billy Harding scores and a Tom Ffitch kick, the visitors moving in front as the latter added to further tries from Jake Hennessey and Jordan Burns.

A converted Henderson second kept Tigers in the contest, but a Ffitch penalty and converted Will Davis try sealed the deal before Henderson completed his hat-trick at the death.

Sale made it back-to-back wins with a 33-22 home triumph against Esher.

The away side took an early lead as Sam Morley added to Francisco Souto’s try, only for the Dogs to reply through Joe Green and Mark Dixon – Will Hunt converting both.

Esher levelled thanks to a Henry Mortimer interception and Morley’s boot, but a second converted Dixon effort made it 21-14 at the break.

Stan Norman crossed for the Eees before Ciaran Booth rumbled over from a maul, another Hunt kick making it a nine-point game.

A Morley penalty looked like it would salvage a bonus-point for the visitors, but Sean Street’s injury-time try denied the Surrey men.

Dings Crusaders inflicted an eighth straight loss on visitors Darlington Mowden Park as the Bristolians ran out 46-20 victors.

Harry Read’s penalty gave DMP a second-minute advantage before Deago Bailey crossed for Crusaders, a converted Callum Mackenzie try nudging the visitors back in front.

George Boulton added to Bailey’s second before Matt Lane touched down for 17-10, a Read penalty responded to by Tomas Gwilliam’s five-pointer before the break.

Louie Trevett was next to cross for Dings, but Read was again on target after Ben Douglas dotted down to leave it 27-20.

The game remained in the balance until the final six minutes, the hosts pulling clear thanks to tries from Tom Hargan, Sol Taufa and Tom Gollop, another Tom, Knight, with two conversions.

Rams made it eight wins from eight with a visceral 21-16 success at Plymouth Albion.