Rugby union: Blackheath drop fears grow after fifth straight loss – Rosslyn Park running out 15-0 victors
BY GRAHAM COX
The last time Rosslyn Park came calling at The Utilita, Blackheath produced their best performance of the 2021-22 season to win 31-24, all but extinguishing the Roehampton side’s hopes of promotion to The Championship.
On Saturday there was to be no upset of the form book as Park eased to a comfortable and controlled 15-0 win with three unconverted tries, their fifth victory in six starts.
It consigned the Club to a fifth defeat from the same number of matches, and leaves them precariously positioned, just one place above the National League One relegation zone.
As they often do, Blackheath started at pace, recycling well, and sending the ball through numerous hands.
Unable to make inroads, however, they soon found themselves on the back foot and, despite possession, were unable to exit their own territory with the strong and gusty wind in their faces.
A long-range penalty attempt from Park’s Josh Bragman in the 10th minutes struck an upright.
It was quickly followed by a drop-goal attempt from the fly-half from even greater distance falling narrowly wide.
Blackheath then misjudged a box kick from former Club scrum-half Dan Hiscocks with Benji Marfo on hand to gather on the bounce and score.
Moments later, as Park moved the ball across field via inside-centre Matt Gordan, who frequently broke the gain-line, an overlap was created for open-side and skipper Arthur Ellis to send his left-wing strolling across for his second try, and a half-time advantage of 10-0.
Not an insurmountable lead, with the clouds still scudding across the darkening sky at pace, and the elements now in Blackheath’s favour, but their kicking game yielded scant territorial gain.
As penalties cost further ground, only a try-saving tackle from Jake Lloyd denied Marfo his hat-trick, but as Blackheath were adjudged offside, the resultant close-range lineout saw the forwards crab infield to work Ellis across.
Too little, too late, Blackheath instilled some urgency into their game, but errors close to the goal-line thwarted them, and no consolation came their way.
Blackheath’s final league match of 2023 takes them to Hertfordshire on Saturday for the meeting with Bishop’s Stortford (3pm).
Wimbledon suffered an eighth straight defeat in National League 2 East as they were defeated 51-33 at Worthing.
Jack Cooke, Macauley Casey, Luke Cerely and Joshua Stace scored the Dons’ tries with Edward Morgan kicking four conversions.
Wimbledon are second bottom of the standings on 17 points with only Walsham – still yet to put anything on the board – below them.
The Dons are home to third-placed Barnes this weekend.
PICTURES: ANDREW WANSBURY