A position of tenth in the National League One table at the start of the day belied Moseley’s recent good form, and when full-back Freddie Painter squeezed over in the right corner for the opening try, it was no more than the visitors deserved after a dominant opening quarter of this contest.
However, having largely held firm and soaking up pressure for 20 minutes, Blackheath unleashed themselves like a coiled spring bursting forth, responding with nine tries for a comprehensive win, keeping them third in the table.
‘Moseley threw everything at us in that first 20 minutes, and although we defended stoutly, we were probably fortunate to be only 5-points down,’ said Blackheath attack coach Seb Sherwood.
‘We knew they’d bring a lot of physicality and we were looking to match that and go one better, which we did for the most part, and then put them to the sword when the opportunities arose.’
‘The pack on the whole were brilliant, but Archie Smeaton at number-eight was outstanding, not only with his line-breaks, but also the huge amount of unseen work he does. Fin O’Sullivan on his 25th appearance was also superb, he’s a great defender and tackled unbelievably well.’
‘Tom Hughes looked dangerous on the wing, and Sam Morley as ever controlled the game brilliantly from fly-half.’
Three attacks produced three tries prior to the interval.
Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas mopped up a loose pass and kept the Club on the front-foot for Josh Smart to send Raff Hollister over to level, before Smeaton broke across the gain-line and Morley’s perfectly-judged chip over the defence was grounded by Hughes.
Morley bravely took possession under the high ball, and with Hollister’s deft diagonal kick collected by Jake Hennessey, Blackheath led 15-5 at the break.
Hollister broke deep into Moseley territory allowing Billy Harding to off-load for Ed Scragg to rampage over within a minute of the re-start, Morley’s kick from defence was met by Hennessey for Hughes to send Hollister over for a great score from deep, and Harding detached himself from the maul for his 35th try of the campaign.
A penalty try for Moseley interrupted the flow, but Archie Holland crashed over next to the uprights, Archie Bourne cruised through a gap for Kyle McGhie to dive over, and Hughes collected Morley’s cross-field kick to send the hosts past the half-century.
Next Saturday, Blackheath are at home once again, as they host Rams at the Utilita Well Hall. Kick off is at 3.00 pm
Blackheath
Tries: Hollister 26, 46, Hughes 32, 76, Hennessey 36, Scragg 41, Harding 56, Holland 67, McGhie 71
Conv: Morley 41, 56, 67, 71, 76
Birmingham Moseley
Tries: Painter 22, Penalty 56
Attendance 310
| 15 | . | Ed Dunford |
| 14 | . | Tom Hughes |
| 13 | . | Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas |
| 12 | . | Raff Hollister |
| 11 | . | Jake Hennessey |
| 10 | . | Sam Morley |
| 9 | . | Jordan Burns |
| 1 | . | Archie Holland |
| 2 | . | Billy Harding (Capt) |
| 3 | . | Rory Marsh |
| 4 | . | Fin O’Sullivan |
| 5 | Ed Scragg | |
| 6 | . | Josh Smart |
| 7 | . | Noah Sloot |
| 8 | . | Archie Smeaton |
| 16 | . | Archie Bourne |
| 17 | . | James Cornish |
| 18 | . | Tom Johnson |
| 19 | . | Tom Emery |
| 20 | . | Kyle McGhie |
Photos: Nick King
Graham Cox
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