Chances for Blackheath to turn their form around

Blackheath travel to Leeds Tykes on November 6 looking to turn around a run in form which has seen them win just twice in eight games.

Their next home game on November 13, against Taunton at Well Hall (2.30 pm), is another chance to bounche back from the blow of being beaten by Plymouth Albion on Saturday.

The visitors recorded a second win in a row after five successive defeats to start their season.

This close fought contest, played at high tempo featured nine tries.

Blackheath had left it late to move into the narrowest of leads, only for hooker Jamie Salter to cross with four minutes remaining to claim maximum points for the visitors.

The hosts had set the early pace.

The Club were able to exert pressure following a mistake at the kick-off, and after Andrew Boye made inroads, and Jake Lloyd and Dom McGeekie went close in the corner, the ball was moved inside for Ed Taylor to touch down for a converted score on just two minutes.

Dan Hiscocks broke blind off the base of a ruck, and Boye was involved again, making the final pass for McGeekie, the flanker making a fine one-handed catch before going over.

So Blackheath had a 12-0 lead with just 10 minutes played. Nevertheless, once Albion got their driving maul into action they soon hauled their way back.

Spurning a possible three points, they backed up their decision by driving Salter across from lineout ball.

Although Freddie Gabbitass responded with a penalty at the other end, another similar opportunity saw ball moved inside for centre Setareki Raumakita to trot over unopposed.

Tom Putt converted both scores to bring the visitors within a point, and the scrum-half added to his tally on half-time as he moved blind off a further maul, his try giving Albion the advantage at 19-15 at the interval.

Albion started the second half in the ascendancy, and soon Alex Ducker was embarrassing the Blackheath defence, as the wing weaved a path from near halfway to beneath the uprights for the bonus point score.

But George Spencer came off the bench, making a fine debut in the centre, and Freddie Owen pilfered a couple Albion lineouts, so Blackheath picked up the pace once more.

A second yellow card in the match for a dangerous tackle depleted the visitors once again and as the Club pack rolled towards the goal-line, a penalty try brought the hosts back within range.

Gabbitass and Putt exchanged penalties, and with time running out, the Club fly-half executed a perfect cross-field kick for Howard Packman to collect, the wing grounding, despite being taken in the air, and giving Blackheath a one-point lead.

Nevertheless, the Club were immediately on the defensive as lbion cut down the left flank, and although the ball was scrambled into touch, Blackheath chose not to challenge the lineout, enabling Salter to be driven over for the winning score.

The gloom was lifted a little at Well Hall on Sunday with the visit of Jeff Blackett.

The RFU President is visiting south-east London as part of a 150 mile nationwide walk over a 15- day period, as part of the RFU’s 150 th anniversary, to raise funds the Injured Players Foundation (IPF) Sunday’s 10-mile walk took in five clubs across south-east London and finished at Well Hall.