Rugby union: Blackheath pack key in 36-24 win at Sedgley Park
An outstanding performance from Blackheath’s pack laid the foundation for their fifth bonus-point victory of the National League One campaign, writes Graham Cox.
The 36-24 result at Sedgley Park was the Club’s sixth win in seven visits to Park Lane.
Despite falling behind early on, an ever-improving set-piece and forward dominance enabled the visitors to reclaim parity by the interval before taking control in the second period, ensuring a result which makes this pleasant corner of Lancashire one of their more successful hunting grounds.
It did not start well though. On 12 minutes an inside pass from Sedge hooker Ben Gregory found Nathan Pope, who in turn sent fellow centre, and skipper, Matt Riley under the uprights for the opening try.
As the host side were kept on the front foot by Club errors, a long pass out wide created the space for Rhys Henderson, and the wing produced a strong run to the corner and put the hosts 12-0 ahead at the end of the first quarter.
Blackheath had already lost an early attacking lineout opportunity and conceded penalties for tackle height. But as Park became guilty of the same infringement, Tom Ffitch was able to give the Club field position for Mike Etete to take lineout ball, and Billy Harding piled through the maul to score.
Five minutes later, and the action repeated itself, only with Tom Baldwin collecting the ball for the Club hooker to claim his second try and bring the visitors level.
It was not just the forwards who excelled. Prior to half-time, Jordan Burns made a stunning blind-side break, and only a fine tap-tackle from Henderson denied the scrum-half.
After the restart came the key moment of the match. Auguy Slowik’s kick forward did not look particularly menacing but Jake Hennessey snatched the bobbling ball, before launching a weaving run, side-stepping a bamboozled Park defence for an exceptional try for the Club wing.
Then, a scrum penalty, another lineout take from the giant Etete, and Baldwin drove to the line before Burns finished off to make it a 14-point lead.
Park were not done. Having just produced a 50:22 from a clearance kick, Henderson cut a lovely diagonal line for his second try to keep the Lancastrians in touch, but a Ffitch penalty quickly put the visitors back beyond a converted score.
Henderson completed a fine hat-trick in the dying moments to complement an excellent game for the Sedge wing, as well as claiming a bonus-point for the Lancastrians, but only after Club loose-head Will Davis was driven across, following another accurate Harding throw, to put the result beyond doubt.
National League One takes a break this weekend before re-commencing on November 9 when Blackheath entertain Sale FC at the Utilita in Kidbrooke Lane (3pm).
Wimbledon suffered a setback in Regional 1 South Central as they lost 24-17 at home to Jersey.
The Dons have won five of their first seven fixtures, with two defeats, and are fifth in the table.
They head to CS Stags 1863 on Saturday.
PICTURE: HELEN WATSON