The game between the teams sitting fifth and sixth in National League One had one question to be answered: could Blackheath halt the momentum of Plymouth Albion on a six match unbeaten run?
The first ten minutes set the scene for the rest of the dull, dank and drizzly afternoon with exchanges of penalties and lineouts for each side. A missed penalty attempt at goal for Blackheath but then a lineout deep in Plymouth’s half saw hooker Billy Harding going over with the driving maul and Tom Ffitch converting to give the first points to Blackheath.
More of the same followed, but then an intercept by Plymouth deep in their own half saw a frantic chase into the Blackheath 22-metre zone where a series of penalties and lineouts eventually told, with Plymouth fly-half Harry Legg taking off on a mazy run to beat four Club defenders to score the try with full-back Diaz Dart making the conversion.
A Blackheath substitution of James Cornish on for tight-head Rory Marsh had almost immediate impact with Cornish going over for a try to give an half-time score of Blackheath 12 Plymouth 7.
Having made a long trip, Plymouth were determined to make the most it and within three minutes of the break Albion flanker Angus Hodges slipped through a maul for a try to make the score all square. The visitors then virtually camped-out beyond the Blackheath 22-metre line for the next ten minutes. A great defensive effort from Blackheath denied a score but following 2 or 3 free-play advantages for Plymouth, lock Tom Everard was awarded a yellow card to go with his 25th Club appearance.
Albion seemed reluctant to leave the Blackheath half and the man advantage eventually led to a try for substitute centre Morgan Stone converted by Diaz Dart giving the lead to the Albion.
Substitutions again gave inspiration to Blackheath with scrum half Jordan Burns breaking through and stepping on the gas from 30 metres to score under the posts with conversion by Tom Ffitch to bring the scores level.
With ten minutes to go the game became fractious, with Referee Watson speaking to the captains more than once. This time it was Plymouth tight-head Dan Pullinger receiving a yellow card. Almost as soon as Pullinger came back he was replaced by Albion No16 Rhys Williams who received a straight red card for dropping Blackheath captain Tom Baldwin from above the horizontal. The ensuing penalty virtually from the half-way line by replacement kicker Jake Hennessey dropping short was the last realistic chance of a score for the home side. Plymouth were not finished, though, with No19 Tom Putt making a penalty to take the lead.
Putt had a further chance a few minutes later with a long-range penalty falling short leaving Blackheath’s attempt to play out of their own half petering-out with a forward pass.
“In the second half Plymouth just squeezed the life out of us” said Director of Rugby James Shanahan after the game. Which sums it up really.
Next Blackheath fixtures are away at Esher 15 Feb 2025, and then the re-arranged game at DMP 22 Feb 2025. The next Club home game is on 1 March 2025 against Sedgley Park.
Blackheath
Tries: Harding 10, Cornish 37, Burns 69
Conv: Ffitch 11, 69
Plymouth Albion
Tries: Legg 27, Hodges 43, Stone 68
Conv: Dart 28, 68
Pens: Putt 78
Attendance: 428
| 15 | HENNESSEY, Jake |
| 14 | LLOYD, Jake |
| 13 | GILMOUR, Findlay |
| 12 | HIRSKYJ-DOUGLAS, Oskar |
| 11 | KITTO, Oliver |
| 10 | FFITCH, Tom |
| 9 | BURNS, Jordan |
| 1 | HOLLAND, Archie |
| 2 | HARDING, Billy (VC) |
| 3 | MARSH, Rory |
| 4 | EVERARD, Tom 25th game |
| 5 | STRADWICK, Tom |
| 6 | SMART, Josh |
| 7 | SLOOT, Noah |
| 8 | BALDWIN, Tom (C) |
| 16 | WALLIKER, Ollie |
| 17 | ETETE, Mike |
| 18 | CORNISH, James |
| 19 | DALY, Jack |
| 20 | BURCHAM, Markus |
Photographs courtesy of Nick King
Steve Foster
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