Blackheath 31 Sedgley Park 3

An outstanding second half performance from Blackheath, and a fourth hat-trick of the campaign from Billy Harding to move the Club to third place in the National League One table.

Aggrieved at being penalised on half-time for retaliation with his side leading 7-3, Harding stormed out of the blocks at the re-start, finding a gap on the halfway line to break deep into Sedgley Park territory.  With Luke Pollock up in support to set the ruck five metres out, the Club’s skipper burrowed his way through for a converted try.

Six minutes later, as the drizzly rain intensified to substantial, and Park collapsed the maul, Blackheath’s exemplary lineout, marshalled by the ever-excellent Ed Scragg, saw Harding driven across for his second try, and with Matt Dalrymple again adding the conversion, the hosts had an 18-point advantage.

It wasn’t only in attack where Blackheath were clinical.  The Club’s defence withstood long periods of Lancastrian pressure, and one came now as Park set up camp on the opposition goal line.

Nevertheless, the siege was broken in spectacular fashion as Finn Osborne roared off the base of a defensive scrum with a 60-metre break, and although the move broke down just short of the Park goal line, Blackheath were back in the ascendancy.

Images from Blackheath RFC v Sedgely Park RFC at Utilita Stadium on 22/11/2025

Dalrymple found an excellent touch, and as Harding once again found Scragg with his lineout throw, centres Pollock and Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas added weight to the maul to power Harding across for the bonus point, and the hooker’s 22^nd try of the season.

Images from Blackheath RFC v Sedgely Park RFC at Utilita Stadium on 22/11/2025

Images from Blackheath RFC v Sedgely Park RFC at Utilita Stadium on 22/11/2025

In their desperation to seek consolation, Park lost ball in contact, and as Scragg and Will Jameson made ground, Charlie Briers spotted a gap from a ruck to add a fifth try at the close.

Images from Blackheath RFC v Sedgely Park RFC at Utilita Stadium on 22/11/2025

The opening period had been far tighter.  Park were on the attack from the outset, but with Blackheath’s resilient goal line defence, and Jake Hennessey, on his 100^th appearance in Club colours, safe under the high ball, the visitors were limited to a 15^th minute Oli Glasse penalty.

Images from Blackheath RFC v Sedgely Park RFC at Utilita Stadium on 22/11/2025

Blackheath’s first serious assault came on the half-hour, a maul driving ten-metres before Jake Lloyd made further ground out wide, and Archie Holland powered across from close-range, and when Tom Hughes on debut made a break, the wing halted illegally for Park to temporarily lose a man to a yellow card, Blackheath had another opportunity.

Taking exception to a high tackle, Harding’s action reversed a further penalty, losing the moment, the Club skipper then spending the halftime break like as an increasingly compressed coiled spring in the changing room.

After 40 minutes of attrition, the deluge, not only from the heavens, but from Blackheath also.

Images from Blackheath RFC v Sedgely Park RFC at Utilita Stadium on 22/11/2025

National League Rugby takes a break next Saturday, but returns on 6^th December when Blackheath travel to Cheshire to face Sale FC.  Kick off at Heywood Road is at 2.30 pm.

The Club are back at Utilita Well Hall on 13^th December for their final league game of 2025 when Leeds Tykes are the visitors.  Kick off at 3.00 pm.

Blackheath

Tries:   Holland 29, Harding 41, 47, 71, Briers 80

Conv:  Dalrymple 29, 41, 47

Sedgley Park

Pens:   Glasse 14

Attendance: 520

Photos: Nick King

Graham Cox