Rugby union: Blackheath suffer home loss to Leicester Lions as Wimbledon end lengthy winless run

BY GRAHAM COX

Blackheath lost 29-27 at home to Leicester Lions last weekend with the visitors, who started the day at the foot of National League 1, gaining a narrow but deserved and much-needed – victory.

Apart from a five-minute spell around the hour-mark, Club had to concede second best to the East Midlanders on their first-ever league visit.

The result left no one at The Utilita in any doubt that there are any easy games in this league.

The accuracy of their game a week earlier at Sedgley Park deserted Blackheath. Leicester Lions gained early momentum for fly-half Dan Lewis to put outside-centre Jamel Hamilton across within two minutes.

Jake Lloyd recovered a loose pass, Tom Everard made ground, and the former sent through a grubber-kick for Markus Burcham to ground.

Matt Dalrymple added a decent conversion and, for a while, Blackheath held a 7-5 lead.

However, while the Lions defence remained largely disciplined and firm, Lewis and the excellent Hamilton exposed the Club’s right flank to put scrum-half James Stubbs across on 32 minutes.

Dalrymple clawed back three points for Blackheath from a high tackle but, as half-time approached, Lewis cleverly tapped forward and collected his own chip to race away unopposed for a 19-10 interval lead for the visitors.

Lewis was again the creator on 52 minutes, as a perfectly-weighted kick to the corner was met by right-wing Charlie Davies, extending the lead by a further five points, but following a lengthy break for the unfortunate Lions number-eight Nick Cairns, Blackheath struck back with three quick tries.

Ed Talyor took lineout ball and Billy Harding drove across, before Dalrymple found space on the left touchline, the fly-half’s grubber dribbled forward by Harding for Burcham, once again, to do the grounding.

Then it was Alex Noot who broke down the left, the wing finding Leo Fielding on his inside to cut a diagonal line and send Lloyd across.

Although only one conversion was added, Blackheath held a 27-24 advantage.

But as quickly as the fire was lit, it burned out, and the handling errors returned, soon followed by a run of penalties.

With Hamilton and Lewis inevitably involved, and open-side James Murdoch neatly scooping up a kick forward, the Club’s defences were unlocked once again, and although Jake Hennessey wrapped himself around the Lions’ inside-centre, Luke Bouchier was able to claim the winning try.

Blackheath travel to the north-east to take on Darlington Mowden Park tomorrow.

Wimbledon ended a nine-match winless run in National League 2 East  – stretching back to September 23 – as they picked up a 21-17 victory at Westcombe Park.

Joshua Stace, Paul Hendry and Devlin Hope scored the Dons’ tries with Edward Morgan converting three times.

Westcombe Park scored two tries in the closing stages to make it a nervy finish.

Wimbledon remain 13th in the 14-club division but are level on points with Worthing and only six behind Guernsey.

The Dons are at home to Canterbury tomorrow.

PICTURES: ANDY WANSBURY