Blackheath make winning start to campaign but Dorking provide a test

Dorking made Blackheath work mighty hard for this opening day 29-10 win in National League Two East, with the result only settled in the final quarter.

In the end though the Surrey team had no answer to the power of the Club’s pack and their driving maul, which set the platform for all five of their tries, writes Graham Cox.

Blackheath took just eight minutes to register their first score, Tom Stradwick took lineout ball five metres from the Dorking goal-line and Paul Schroter, on his debut, burrowed through the ensuing drive to touch down.

Dorking, who won 21 of their 26 matches in achieving promotion to level four last term, were soon on the scoreboard themselves as Henry Anscombe landed a penalty.

A further strike from the Dorking fly-half, this time from the halfway line, struck the upright, and although the visitors came under huge pressure as Blackheath went through numerous phases, tenacious tackling eventually forced the error, and loose ball was picked up by Toby McRae, the wing showing great pace to sprint 80 metres for a 10-5 advantage.

Dorking’s advantage was short-lived though.Tom Baldwin, captaining the side on his return to Club colours, took lineout ball and Harry Holland crashed over for the try which, with Oli Burgess’ conversion, gave Blackheath a 12-10 interval lead.

A massive shove from a scrum got Blackheath on the front foot at the outset of the second period, and as Jack Daly fed the attacking line, Nick Foster exploited a gap for a third score. But it was only in the 62nd minute that the hosts could begin to feel comfortable.

As the pack once again made good ground off lineout ball, play moved inside for Jake Hennessey, the centre making inroads under the uprights before offloading to Andy Denham to round off the move.

Dorking fought back and mounted a period of sustained pressure of their own with two close-range lineouts, but the Club defence held firm.

As the hosts relieved the siege, the visitors conceded quick penalties, and another impressive maul followed, before Chris Bell’s long pass, and a neat backhanded flick from Foster, found Jake Lloyd to go in at the corner.

Blackheath take on another of the promoted sides as they make the short journey to Sevenoaks on Saturday. Kick off at Knole is at 3pm.