Blackheath win 40-5 against DMP – but struggling opposition have their moments

Blackheath ran out thoroughly convincing 40-5 winners over Darlington Mowden Park on Saturday, writes Graham Cox.

It was not always as lopsided as the final scoreline might suggest.

Darlington Mowden Park arrived at the Utilita Well Hall just one place from the foot of National League 1, without a win and having conceded no fewer than 40 points in each of their preceding games.

Nevertheless, in an evenly-contested opening the north-easterners gave the Club a few early scares, until the hosts upped the physicality, dominated the set-piece and began to cut out the handling errors that were still prevalent from the previous week at Moseley.

Only Will Davis’ intercept stopped a certain try for Park openside and skipper Will Craggs and although Tom Ffitch’s tap-tackle caused visiting scrum-half Ben Douglas to stumble, the Club defence piled in to kill the ball resulting in a yellow card for Auguy Slowik.

With the extra man, left-wing Olly Walker bounced off a tackle to score in the corner.

Frustration mounted for Blackheath as they were twice held-up across the goal-line, but on 34 minutes Archie Holland arrived off the bench and made an immediate impact as the tight-head hit Markus Burcham’s pass, after the centre opened-up the Park defence, and crossed for a converted try.

Soon after Burcham made the final pass again, after Tom Baldwin and Olly Walliker made ground, for Jake Lloyd to cross in the corner and Blackheath ended the opening period with a 12-5 lead.

With a faultless lineout and dominant scrum, Blackheath took an iron-grip on the second half.

After pounding and probing the right corner, Ffitch’s looped pass enabled Lloyd to squeeze over for his second try on 52 minutes.

A dangerous tackle temporarily reduced Park to 14 men and with Walliker finding Tom Everard at the lineout, Noah Sloot steamed across from the drive.

Alex Witchell matched Walliker’s accuracy, the replacement hooker picked out Tevita Cavubati and, as the second-row emerged again to make ground, Davis crashed over for a fifth try.

Slowik sent Matt Armstrong on a break in the closing stages. The wing was held just short of the goal-line but returned the ball to his full-back for a final try.

“After last week, we tried to overplay and force things,” said Club director of rugby James Shanahan.

“But their try was a sucker punch which woke us up and we started looking after the ball better.

“At half-time we spoke about being patient and in the second period our kicking game was excellent and defence outstanding. They never looked like scoring.

“If we’d been more ruthless from the start we might have scored more tries. But at the end of the season it’s a win, so we’ll take that and move on to Plymouth next week – which will be a really tough game.”

Blackheath’s game at Plymouth Albion tomorrow is a 3pm kick-off at Brickfields.

Wimbledon lost 30-29 at Tunbridge Wells on Saturday in Regional 1 South Central.

The Dons tries were scored by Timothy Ridler (two), George Brosch, Tom Williams and Paul Hendry with Oliver Latto producing two conversions.

PICTURE: ANDY WANSBURY