Rugby union: Blackheath never lost control in comfortable win over Hull Ionians

BY GRAHAM COX

Blackheath scored six excellent tries and showed some real class at times as they defeated Hull Ionians 44-19 on Saturday,

On the downside it was also a game that lapsed into periods of poor control, with plenty of errors from both sides.

Club started the game at pace and their overall dominance was never in question once Freddie Owen took lineout ball from Mike Perks, the pack drove forward, and Markus Burcham sent Henry Staff through the defensive line in only the fourth minute.

Freddie Gabbitass’ crossfield punt saw a defensive error for Jake Lloyd to touch down in the corner.
Although the pace slowed, and Ionians’ outside-centre Jack Colbourne’s intercept after a wayward pass allowed the visitors to respond with their opening score, Stef Liebenberg’s delightful backward pass sent Owen through another defensive hole to add a third for the hosts.

Jack Rouse, making his Club debut at blind-side, turned over possession in midfield for Lloyd to make a strong break down the right flank, the Club wing held just short, and Mike Perks was on hand to complete the bonus point score.  Although Ionians’ second-row Tom Peters reached out across the goal-line to keep the visitors in touch, at 24-12, Blackheath held the upper hand at the interval.

Any prospect of a miraculous comeback was stifled by the hour-mark as two Gabbitass penalties, both for scrum infringements, sandwiched a lovely show-and-go from Burcham to put Ben Ransom over for a try and a 37-12 advantage.

The Yorkshiremen kept battling and prop Joshua Peace’s try on 66 minutes from a close-range tap-penalty gave them a glimmer of a four-try bonus.

But in their eagerness, ball fell loose in attack. Blackheath broke out of defence through Lloyd, the Club right-wing sent his left-wing colleague Craig Dowsett away from 40-metres to close out the match.

Blackheath travel to Sale FC tomorrow (2pm).