A fine game, an exceptional performance from Blackheath, and a result which opens the National League One title as a three-horse race – arguably four with Sale FC chasing hard, and due to play all the top three sides in the remaining four rounds of matches.
For now though, Blackheath in third spot, close within five-points of Rotherham, after a game where head coach Tom Stradwick said the Club would have to be at their very best to beat the league-leaders, but in retrospect thought his side could have won by more.
‘In terms of effort, I thought we were outstanding. We were tiring in the end, but our fitness and grit have got us over the line in these recent big games.’
‘In terms of being at our very best, to be honest, I think we left two or three tries out there. Handling errors in the final third, and one when we were penalised for a pull-back when we had a two on one.’
‘However, we did play well. We put a big focus on double-tackles and trying to dominate as much as we could, particularly off rucks.’
‘They did get around us a few times, and that’s credit to the quality players they’ve got, a very dangerous back three and big powerful forwards, but our ability to defend without conceding too many metres, or penalties, made the difference today.’
A decent start can also help, and that’s just what Blackheath got, with two tries and a 12-0 lead on only seven minutes.
With an early Sam Morley kick to touch giving the hosts field position, lineout ball found its way to Luke Pollock, the outside-centre piercing the defensive line, and then sending Noah Sloot crashing through the remaining cover to score.
Moments later, the towering Ed Scragg took possession at the lineout once again and as the Club built a number of phases close to the Yorkshiremen’s goal-line, Billy Harding continued his remarkable run of scoring in every game, the hooker finding the gap to touch-down.
Rotherham were never going buckle easily, and with Jackson Barling proving a mighty handful, the wing’s break took play to the five-metre line, support arriving for centre Lloyd Hayes to barge across the goal-line.
However, with Archie Smeaton making an important defensive turnover, Finn Osborne making some good carries, and Archie Holland, Rory Marsh (and later James Cornish) holding firm at the scrum, despite a significant weight disadvantage, the score remained 12-5 at the interval.
The re-start saw a mounting penalty count against Rotherham, and as the visitors conceded territory, Morley’s long pass found Ed Dunford, the full-back in turn finding Tom Hughes, who demonstrated the subtlest of side-steps to squeeze across in the right corner and extend the lead.
Hayes landed a penalty to reduce the arrears following a no-arms tackle, but Blackheath responded with interest when a dangerous tackle led to a yellow card for the visitors, Jake Hennessey drove close, before Harding burrowed over for his second score of the match and 41st of the campaign.
Nevertheless, Rotherham were not quite done. As the visitors drove forward off lineout, play moved into midfield where Barling came off his wing to barge his way over for a converted try, ensuring a tense final six minutes, though Blackheath closing the game out with no further drama.
Blackheath travel to Lancashire next Saturday to face Sedgley Park, kick off at Park Lane is at 2.30 pm.
The Club’s next home match is on 11th April when Sale FC are the visitors.
Blackheath
Tries: Sloot 2, Harding 7, 65, Hughes 54
Conv: Morley 2
Rotherham
Tries: Hayes 15, Barling 74
Conv: Hayes 74
Pens: Hayes 59
Attendance: 715
| 15 | . | Ed Dunford |
| 14 | . | Tom Hughes |
| 13 | . | Luke Pollock |
| 12 | . | Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas |
| 11 | . | Jake Hennessey |
| 10 | . | Sam Morley |
| 9 | . | Jordan Burns |
| 1 | . | Archie Holland |
| 2 | . | Billy Harding (Capt) |
| 3 | . | Rory Marsh |
| 4 | . | Archie Smeaton |
| 5 | Ed Scragg | |
| 6 | . | Josh Smart |
| 7 | . | Noah Sloot |
| 8 | . | Finn Osborne |
| 16 | . | Archie Bourne |
| 17 | . | James Cornish |
| 18 | . | Tom Johnson |
| 19 | . | Tom Emery |
| 20 | . | Kyle McGhie |
Photos: Nick King
Graham Cox
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