Richmond recorded their sixth Premiership win of the season after a pulsating battle with Bedford produced nine tries.

Even without injured British Lions Allan Bateman and Scott Quinnell Richmond romped 20-0 ahead inside 12 minutes and the floodgates threatened to open.

Darragh O'Mahony: Hat-trick kept Bedford in the game

But Bedford fought back brilliantly, inspired by Irish international wing Darragh O'Mahony, who scored a hat-trick, until Richmond's second row star Craig Quinnell killed the game off.

Quinnell touched down twice during the final quarter taking half Bedford's pack with him for the second, yet O'Mahony's hat-trick try guaranteed a thrilling finale.

O'Mahony came desperately close to giving Bedford a breathtaking injury-time victory yet Richmond held on and preserved their place among the Premiership title contenders.

They began in blistering fashion when Western Samoan fly-half Earl Va'a, who scored 18 points, crossed for a try after just 79 seconds.

When Richmond hooker Barry Williams powered over with less than three minutes gone, Richmond were 14-0 ahead before two Va'a penalties gave Bedford a mountain to climb.

O'Mahony's first score was cancelled out by a close range Adam Vander penalty.

Then the Bedford comeback really began in earnest with number eight Junior Paramore diving over and full-back Sam Howard's kicks keeping the visitors in contention.

With the Richmond defence at sixes and sevens, O'Mahony scored again on 43 minutes, and, after Va'a and Howard had exchanged penalties, Richmond were 28-27 ahead as a memorable match entered it's final 20 minutes.

That was the cue for Quinnell, seemingly a certainty to represent Wales against world champions South Africa later this month, to leave an indelible mark on Bedford's defence.

His first try came from a line-out - his second was a superb individual effort as he stormed the Bedford line from 10 metres out.