A stunning second half performance saw Blackheath come within a breath of a result that would have sent seismic shockwaves up and down the length of the English Champ.
Leading by 20-points at the halfway stage, Coventry looked to be ready to amass similar carnage to that inflicted on Cornish Pirates and Nottingham in recent weeks.
However, in a display that kept a lid on the volume coming from the large partisan Friday night crowd at the Nick Newbold Stadium, Blackheath won the second period 21-3, to leave the West Midlanders hanging by a thread at the death.
‘I’m immensely proud of the boys,’ said Club head coach Tom Stradwick. ‘Against a fully-professional side, and after only a five-day turnaround since the Doncaster match, I said at half-time, “if you come back from this and get a losing point that’s gold dust.”
‘I said when you’re wearing that shirt, always make sure you’ve got enough fight in you and they did just that – superb.’
Blackheath began with an element of luck, as ball was adjudged to have gone forward off Tom Hughes’ head, the Club wing mopping up and scampering away for a converted try within a minute of the start.
The hosts were soon level, as open-side Tom Ball grounded from a catch-and-drive, and although Sam Morley struck a penalty for off-side, a fine offload from a cross-field punt gave Coventry the lead through wing Jack Reeves.
Archie Smeaton punched a hole for Club full-back Iwan Price-Thomas to twist himself across the goal-line and edge the visitors briefly back in front, but Coventry’s efficient lineout, and unstoppable driving maul, created two tries for hooker Ethan Hunt, intersected by a midfield break for Bruce Houston to send half-back partner Josh Barton across.
Houston complemented some excellent line-kicking with five conversions, and Coventry led 35-15 at the break.
However, the hosts never reached the same heights after the re-start.
With better defence of the wider channels, Blackheath blunted the opposition’s speed of ball which had been so potent in the opening period, and with an increased ferocity, the visitors forced a run of penalties, culminating in Archie Holland tunnelling his way over for a try.
Brilliance from Jordan Burns saw the scrum-half snatch his own chip away from two defenders to race over the goal-line, Sam Morley’s third conversion bringing Blackheath within six points, and when a maul was held up across the Club try-line, the visitors could believe every weapon in Coventry’s armoury had been negated.
All, that is, bar one.
Houston’s successful 55-metre penalty strike on 70 minutes was followed by a Morley attempt slipping wide, and although the Club fly-half quickly made amends by converting Josh Smart’s scrambled try, after Burns and Jake Hennessey made the inroads, Blackheath were left two-points short.
Inch by inch, the Club made ground in the final play, Morley sitting in the pocket, waiting to strike off the smooth 3G surface. But it went one phase too far, the infringement came, and it was Coventry who breathed easy.
Blackheath now look forward to the visit of Ealing Trailfinders to The Utilita Well Hall next Saturday. Kick off is at 3.00 pm
Coventry
Tries: Ball 3, Reeves 9, Hunt 23, 40, Barton 35
Conv: Houston 3, 9, 23, 35, 40
Pens: Houston 70
Blackheath
Tries: Hughes 1, Price-Thomas 19, Holland 51 Burns 54, Smart 77
Conv: Morley 1, 51, 54, 77
Pens: Morley 6
| 15 | . | Iwan Price-Thomas |
| 14 | . | Tom Hughes |
| 13 | . | Luke Pollock |
| 12 | . | Kegan Christian-Goss |
| 11 | . | Noah Ferdinand |
| 10 | . | Sam Morley |
| 9 | . | Jordan Burns |
| 1 | . | Archie Holland |
| 2 | . | Bill Harding (Capt) |
| 3 | . | Rory Marsh |
| 4 | . | Ehize Ehizode |
| 5 | . | Archie Smeaton |
| 6 | . | Josh Smart |
| 7 | . | Noah Sloot |
| 8 | . | Kieran Curran |
| 16 | . | Ben Chapman |
| 17 | . | James Cornish |
| 18 | . | Kabous Bezuidenhout |
| 19 | . | Tom Johnson |
| 20 | . | Ed Scragg |
| 21 | . | Kyle McGhie |
| 22 | . | Ed Dunford |
| 23 | . | Jake Hennessey |
Graham Cox
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