Injury-hit Richmond were made to suffer by a determined London Irish side.

Despite taking the early lead Richmond had no response as Irish forward power ground down even their most resolute defending.

Winger Jarrod Cunningham was the architect behind the Exiles' success, leaving Richmond's faint title hopes faltering.

Richmond were repeatedly lulled into conceding points as Cunningham notched up a conversion and six penalties.

They showed all the early imagination and deserved to break the deadlock when captain Agustin Pichot picked the ball up from the base of the scrum and pierced the Exiles' defence with a superbly executed diagonal run.

However, it was to be Richmond's only high point on a frustrating day. After the break both sides seemed content to exchange penalties as torrential rain made handling difficult.

But Irish sensed another big-name scalp. Number eight Rob Gallagher steamed past battle-weary Richmond to grab the Exiles' first and decisive score.