Blackheath back at top of National League Two East after 52-11 win at Sevenoaks
BY GRAHAM COX
A resounding win to take Blackheath back to the top of National League Two East, but within lies a tale of a game which – for at least the first half – was much closer than the lopsided final scoreline might suggest.
Sevenoaks, promoted as champions of the then London & South East Premier last season, and enjoying a first-ever season at level four, matched and frustrated the visitors throughout the opening session, taking a deserved four-point advantage into the interval.
Only after the break did the visitors begin to exert control. Their pace and movement out wide proved too much for the hosts, allowing the Club to eventually run riot in the final quarter when they crossed for five of their eight-try tally.
Not for the first time in this campaign, poor discipline haunted Blackheath early on. The accumulation of five penalties in 16 minutes culminated in a yellow card for Stevie Clark-Leonard, Oaks exploiting the extra space immediately by sending left-wing Jimmy Short across after opting for the scrum.
Oli Burgess was soon following Clark-Leonard after a high tackle but, ironically, it was while down to 13 men that Blackheath found their best move of the first half. Following turnover ball, play was kept alive through a number of phases, before Alex Harris rounded the defence, the Club left-wing scoring his 10th try in only his ninth appearance.
Jake Hennessey added the conversion for the lead. But with the competitive home pack more than holding their own, and the visitors continuing to infringe, two Ben Adams penalties put the hosts 11-7 ahead going in to half-time.
Two minutes after the restart – from an Oaks infringement – a quick tap-and-go ensured the ball found its way to Tom Baldwin, the Club number-eight grounding across the goal-line despite a crowd of defenders around him.
Adams saw another goal attempt strike the upright, causing momentary panic in the Blackheath defence but now the visitors started to inject more speed and energy into the game.
As possession was turned over after a 58th minute lineout to win the scrum, Nick Foster sent Jake Lloyd bursting through a tackle on the right flank to, at last, put some daylight between the sides.
Not that there was much actual daylight remaining. A 10-minute injury delay for unfortunate Oaks centre James Fotheringham had seen the low autumnal sun, which had been lighting up Knole Paddock, sink behind the adjacent school buildings.
The gathering gloom had little detrimental effect on Blackheath. Lloyd stepped through the midfield for his second try, and as a Foster break took play close the opposition goal-line, Hennessey fed the right-wing for his hat-trick.
Another wonderful solo run saw Foster weave a line for a try. The Club full-back quickly added his second before Alex Witchell was driven over on 80 minutes, Hennessey striking a sixth successful conversion.
“Credit to Sevenoaks because they came out really aggressively, as we expected them to do in a local derby”, said Club head coach James Shanahan. “We had an ‘honest’ chat at half-time and managed to turn things around.
“Our kick-chase game was much better, which squeezed them. We got a much better platform from the set-piece, which meant we were able to keep the ball for longer and in the last 20 minutes we really kicked on. The scoreline looks an easy win, but it was far from that.”
Blackheath now return to Well Hall for two back-to-back home games. Next Saturday they welcome Westcliffe and then it is the turn of Barnes on December 3. Kick-off for both is 3pm.