Rugby: Blackheath punished for mistakes in loss to Leicester Lions
BY GRAHAM COX
Blackheath lost 26-31 to Leicester Lions in a scrappy, error-strewn contest played on a bone-dry Westleigh Park surface which saw the hosts pick up five valuable points to move out of the National League One relegation zone.
It was an instantly forgettable afternoon for Club despite the late try from Jake Hennessey that salvaged two, arguably undeserved, bonus points.
One or two moments aside, Blackheath never hit the form that had seen them win their four previous matches on the spin, making numerous mistakes and conceding nine first-period penalties, four of them in the opening eight minutes.
Lions gorged themselves on the errors, pouncing on loose ball on 10 minutes for Mali Satali to cross. Although Hennessey’s strong break down the left touchline sent Finn Gilmour over in response, a stolen lineout produced a second for Satali, the Lions’ wing showing great pace to score and showboating as he crossed the goal-line.
Fly-half Luke Bouchier added a penalty to two successful conversions and the East Midlanders led 17-7 at the break.
Hopes were raised for the visitors within two minutes of the restart, Tom Ffitch found a gap in the defensive line to send Hennessey across but, frequently undone at the breakdown, the Club were soon back under pressure and Lions’ hooker Arthur Allen crossed for a converted try from lineout ball.
The game continued in its messy, and often careless, fashion but again Blackheath pulled themselves back into contention, as Mike Hoyt, playing at number eight, broke through the midfield, Augy Slowik moved up from full-back to neatly regather his own grubber-kick, before finding Jack Daly on his inside to score.
With the visitors looking to force a winning score in the closing stages, an interception on halfway saw ball hoofed towards the Club’s in-goal, before a tackle off the ball on Lions’ scrum-half Charlie Bemand conceded a penalty try, as well as a second yellow card for Josh Smart.
Hennessey muscled over following a close-range scrum but too late to affect the outcome.
PICTURE: DEBBIE LLOYD
