It has been a tantalising three week wait since the last game at Sedgley Park, but Blackheath’s Billy Harding has finally achieved the accolade of being the highest-ever try-scorer in a National League One (Level Three) season, having surpassed the 14-year old record of 42 set by then Ealing player Phil Chesters in 2012.
I say finally. The Club Captain’s 43rd try has come in the 26th minute of the 24th match, in a campaign where he has scored in every single game, including five hat-tricks along the way. Chesters’ achievement was in the 30-match 2011/12 season.
For those who don’t recall, it should also be pointed out that Chesters was a wing, the outstanding glory-boy of his era, at a time when Ealing were making great strides up the league-ladder (for the record, Chesters, who has been recently playing at Chinnor, still retains the Level Four record, an astonishing 70, also while at Ealing).
Billy is, of course, a hooker, a position more renowned for responsibilities other than try-scoring, and there are those who would suggest that many of his scores were courtesy of being at the base of Blackheath’s driving maul.
True to a point, and Billy would be first to acknowledge the contribution of the Club pack, but there are also a good number scored in open play, Billy cutting a crafty line through defences, of simply leaving a trail of bodies after crashing through tackles.
A successful set-piece also relies on accurate throwing and timing, as well as expert marshalling from the mauler-in-chief.
And it’s not just try-scoring that is in Billy’s armoury, as Tom Stradwick explains.
“Billy has been an outstanding captain,” said the Club head coach. “Coming in to this role in only my first year, I couldn’t have asked for a better leader, both on and off the pitch.”
“He makes everyone feel included, particularly with a lot of new players coming in, is a large part of why we’ve been playing so well, and it’s great that he’s agreed to part of Blackheath for another couple of years.”
Hmm, two more years! With 25-tries to his name prior to this campaign, Billy’s Blackheath tally comes to 68, while Dave Allen’s all-time Club record is 135.
Could he?
Graham Cox
(To see Billy’s 43 tries, go to our YouTube channel)
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