Canterbury 12 Blackheath 57 – Club go top of National League Two East

BY GRAHAM COX

Another eight tries – to add to the 10 from the previous Saturday – and the half-century racked up in successive weeks took Blackheath to the top of National League Two East.

Included in the tally was a hat-trick for outside-centre Jake Hennessey and a brace for left-wing Alex Harris, both exemplifying the Club’s penetration and strong running in open play, to which Canterbury had little response.

It was topped off by the almost immaculate place-kicking of Tom Ffitch, the fly-half adding a further 17 points to his personal total to make it a convincing win on a breezy afternoon at Merton Lane.

There was an element of symmetry too, with four scores in each period, though the killer punch came in the final eight minutes of the first period which saw three of the tries.

Harris had already opened Blackheath’s account with a perfectly executed chip and chase on 10 minutes, Ffitch added the conversion and a penalty for 10-0. The former Old Colfeian made a strong break on his opposite wing before slipping the ball inside for Freddie Owen to score.

Moments later and Harris was back, flying down the left touchline for try number three. With Hennessey bludgeoning his way through tackles from 50-metres for the bonus point score, Blackheath led 31-0 at the break.

A fortnight earlier Tonbridge Juddians had overturned a 24-point deficit at Merton Lane to take victory, and at the restart hope glimmered for Canterbury as Blackheath were reduced temporarily to 14 men and the hosts’ reliable lineout saw open-side Alex Evans driven over.

However the hopes of a comeback didn’t last long. Soon Paul Schroter was driving into the heart of the Canterbury midfield – Harris again showed great feet – and Stevie Leonard crashed over.

As resistance continued to crumble, Ollie Claxton sent Hennessey in for his second, and on the hour-mark Nick Foster made the break before offloading for Jake Lloyd to score.

Hennessey completed his hat-trick with a fine run from halfway, before Canterbury gained consolation as skipper and second-row Jamie Stephens piled over off a close-range throw.

“It was a derby match, so we knew it was going to be tough and we really played well,” said head coach James Shanahan.

“We got our basics right in the first half, our kick-chase game and our energy in defence forced a lot of turnovers which gave the opportunities for our broken field runners.

“It sets us up for next Saturday at home to Bury St Edmunds who, in fourth also with three wins, are also going really well.”

Kick-off against Bury St Edmunds at Well Hall on Saturday is 3pm.

PICTURE: ANDY WANSBURY