A highly competitive contest in front of a sizeable crowd at Goldington Road, played at a fast pace and featuring no less than thirteen tries.
It remained in the balance, with only a converted score separating the sides on 70 minutes, but two late tries stamped the Championship side’s authority on the game in the closing stages.
On a warm Friday evening, Bedford hooker Tommy Herman scored two of four first half tries for the hosts.
However, two from Archie Smeaton, the number-eight (one of thirteen of Blackheath’s 28-man squad wearing Club colours for the first time) and a wonderful solo effort from Jordan Burns kept the deficit to 28-21 at the break.
The visitors drew even after the re-start, as skipper Billy Harding touched down after a powerful maul, before the hosts added four further scores either side of a Finn Osborne try, Ed Dunford adding a fifth successful conversion for a perfect goal-kicking display from the Club fly-half.
A fine performance against a Level Two side, the only blemish being the sight of Andy Boye being removed from the field in a neck brace early in the second period.
The good news, however, is that the excellent and speedy work of the medical teams was mainly precautionary, and the Club tight-head’s injury has not been judged to be too serious.
Next Saturday, Blackheath take on another Championship side in the form of newly-promoted Richmond at Well Hall.
Kick off is at 3.00 pm, with the Club XV facing Richmond Vikings at 2.00 pm.
Bedford Blues
Tries: Herman 8, 20, Worth 23, Adamson 34, Sylvester 50, Pascoe 55, Tuilagi 73, Apps 78
Conv: Maisey 8, 20, 23, 34, Price 50, 55, 78
Blackheath
Tries: Smeaton 15, 40, Burns 28, Harding 46, Osborne 62
Conv: Dunford 15, 28, 40, 46, 62
The Club XV also started their pre-season this weekend, scoring a 28-24 victory over Chinnor Falcons at an overcast Well Hall on Saturday.
The home side amassed four first period tries, all converted by James Bush for a 28-0 lead at the interval, only for Chinnor to score four of their own in a strong second half response, two missed conversions proving the difference.
Graham Cox
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