Worthing 20 Blackheath 28 – Club take another step towards promotion
BY GRAHAM COX
For a second week in a row, Blackheath gained a hard-fought, ground-out victory against one of their main challengers in National League Two East and, in so doing, made a further stride towards promotion and regaining their place in domestic rugby’s third tier that they vacated a year ago.
Like Old Albanians a week earlier, Worthing proved tough opponents with a back division capable of striking from anywhere and which, in this instance, kept the Sussex side in the lead for a majority of the contest.
But the Club pack, with Freddie Owen celebrating his 150th appearance, alongside another ‘veteran’ of one and a half centuries of games in red and black, the superb James Catt, kept driving Blackheath over the gain-line to eventually get them home.
Initially it was a man marking exactly double Owen’s achievement that lit up an exuberant Roundstone Lane crowd on this grey February afternoon.
Within two minutes of his 300th appearance in Worthing colours, full-back Matt McLean was gliding across the try-line for the hosts after Connor Slevin’s 50:22 had given them lineout ball.
Scrum ball under the uprights at the other end was moved wide for Alex Brown to send Jake Lloyd across. Jake Hennessey, assuming the kicking duties in the absence of injured Tom Ffitch, added a fine conversion.
Although the penalty count went vastly against Worthing, it was a high tackle against the visitors that allowed McLean to reclaim the lead for the hosts.
Blackheath continued to work through numerous phases, but a stray pass on 35 minutes fell neatly into the hands of Slevin, the Worthing fly-half racing 60 metres to the goal-line unopposed, and although the hosts were reduced to 14 men soon after, Hennessey’s shot at goal slid wide, leaving the visitors trailing 15-7 at the interval.
The one-man advantage was made to count soon after the restart as Blackheath picked and drove for Ed Taylor to force Archie Holland across for a converted score, but against stubborn resistance the visitors struggled to mount further sustained pressure, despite a fine moment as Chris Bell’s kick and chase turned defence into attack.
Ollie Walliker’s flipped pass sent Alex Harris down the right touchline, and as Matt Armstrong was tackled without the ball, the penalty try, Blackheath’s 100th try in 16 games, put the Club ahead in the 61st minute.
A reckless challenge at the restart saw a third yellow card for the hosts but despite a massive shove against a depleted back, poor control allowed Worthing to come away with the ball. Slevin all too easily broke the line and McLean celebrated further with a second try to bring the hosts to within a point.
But with Markus Burcham making inroads in midfield and the Blackheath pack, marshalled by Jack Daly, regaining control and retaining possession through the phases, Luc Jeannot drove over for the converted score that gave Club their four-try bonus and denied one of their key rivals any consolation.
Blackheath return to Well Hall for the visit of Sevenoaks tomorrow (3pm).
PICTURES: DEBORAH LLOYD