Richmond VFL's Round 12 clash with the Northern Bullants at Preston City Oval was a throwback to yesteryear and inner-suburban footy on a wintery Saturday afternoon.

The Bullants, buoyed by their win over arch-rivals Carlton the week prior, made it two successive wins at home, outlasting Richmond 8.7 (55) to 5.12 (42).

The opening quarter was highly contested, with both sides aiming to win the ball on the inside and surge it forward with speed, attempting to lock it in their front-half.

The ball lived between the arcs for large chunks of the first quarter, with both sides searching for open targets inside 50.

Derek Eggmolesse-Smith enjoyed his positional change to a wing, sweeping back well to provide cover inside Richmond’s defensive 50 and then got involved in forays forward.

Tigers Daniel Rioli and Sydney Stack also spread hard from the back-half, but it was Daniel’s cousin Maurice who provided the highlight of the first quarter.

With the ball bubbling around in the centre square, Rioli received a lightning handball from Ryan Garthwaite and with clear grass between he and the goals, he flicked into high gear.

A trio of Bullants chased but to no avail, Rioli slammed the ball through for the Tigers’ opening major.

Northern kicked back-to-back goals towards the back end of the quarter, taking a 15-point lead into quarter-time.

Rhyan Mansell was another defender who provided spunk and spark, stiff in his defensive actions and proactive by hand and foot.

The second quarter mirrored the first in the sense that the ball pinged between the arcs and both sides had high numbers at the contest.

Richmond kicked the first goal of the quarter via the booming right-boot of dashing wingman, Hugo Ralphsmith.

The Tigers transferred the ball to the outer wing where Ralphsmith gathered the bouncing ball, fought through a tackle, and slammed the ball in hope onto his right boot from 60 metres out.

The ball carried on the breeze, clearing the desperate hands of the Bullants defenders in the goal square and cleared the goal line.

Northern hit back soon after, restoring its 13-point lead.

Richmond got the game back on its terms for the last half of the second quarter, locking the ball in its front-half and stifling the Bullants’ ball movement.

Bigoa Nyuon had a direct hand in the Tigers’ third major after deftly guiding the ball down to Steve Morris who flicked to the ball to a surging Eggmolesse-Smith, who pierced the ball onto the chest of Dylan Cook.

Cook found himself in space inside 50, judged the wind blowing across his right shoulder and converted his set-shot.

Northern’s lead was cut to four points by the main break, with the Tigers hot on its heels.

Maurice Rioli was stalking Northern defenders, forcing turnovers inside 50, Daniel Rioli, Stack and Eggmolesse-Smith were cat-like and dynamic with their ball movement and Richmond started to swarm the Bullants.

It took 15 minutes for the opening goal to be kicked in the third term and unfortunately for Richmond, it was kicked by the Bullants.

As was the case for the previous two quarters, both sides were staunch defensively and proved hard to penetrate.

The Tigers pressured the ball carrier at every opportunity but again struggled to inject rhythm and flow into their ball movement.

Kicking with the wind, Northern added two more goals for the quarter and held Richmond goalless.

To be victorious, Richmond would have to overcome a four-goal deficit with the wind in the final quarter.

The Bullants kicked the all important first goal of the final term and led by a game-high five goals.

The goal against stung the Tigers into action as they forced the ball forward at will and gained reward for effort inside 50.

Samson Ryan marked strongly on the lead and converted a tough set-shot, dragging the deficit back to 19 points.

Shortly after, Ryan Garthwaite trapped a Northern defender and was justly rewarded with a free kick.

Garthwaite didn’t waste any time, setting sail from the paint of 50 as the ball sailed through at goal post height.

The margin was 13 points with under five minutes to play.

Richmond kept the pressure on but ultimately couldn’t pile on the goals to reign in the deficit.

BULL: 3.3 4.3 7.7 8.7 (55)

RICH: 1.0 3.5 3.7 5.12 (42)

Goals:

Richmond: M.Rioli (1), Ralphsmith (1), Cook (1), Ryan (1), Garthwaite (1)