Reflecting on the match, Richardson said the players had spoken at the start of the day about the opportunity in front of them, and they responded in style.
“We spoke at the start of play about it being a great opportunity to do something special and the spirit shown by the players against a very good side was tremendous,” he said.
Leading from the front once again was club captain Brett D’Oliveira, whose composed presence and calm leadership steadied the ship under pressure.
“Brett D’Oliveira is a fantastic leader as well as a really top player,” Richardson continued. “But Matthew Waite was also superb and so many other players chipped in.”
While Richardson was quick to acknowledge that the visitors had dominated large periods of the match, he was equally keen to emphasise the character shown in response.
“I wouldn’t go as far as to say it feels like a win because we were outplayed for much of the game, but we can take so much from today’s efforts.”
For Richardson, the fightback was not just about the result, it was a show of togetherness, determination, and a side still growing in belief.
“To see so many players contribute in different ways was really pleasing.
“These are the kind of days that help build a strong squad culture. We’ve got things to improve on, of course, but we leave this game with a lot of pride.”
