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A vastly-improved second half performance, their best 40 minutes of the season to date, saw Blackheath score 20 unanswered points to overturn an eleven-point half time deficit and record the Club’s first win of the campaign.
The hosts had started well enough, their set-piece functioning smoothly and a Jake Hennessey penalty giving them an early lead, but two converted tries in four minutes, both from breakaway moves, saw Mowden Park surge in confidence.
On eleven minutes, blind-side Grayson Maguire scythed through the midfield, and although the ball fell loose, Ollie Walker gathered before cutting inside to score.
Then, moments later, as opposite wing Brandon Asher-Wood was illegally challenged following his chip and chase, and Marcus Kershaw headed for the sin-bin, second-row Dave Fisher peeled off the short side from the resultant lineout maul and with loose-head Alfie Barron in close attendance crashed over for a 14-3 lead.
Both sides had further opportunities. For Blackheath, Kershaw made a decent break down the left, but held on too long after going to ground, and a stolen lineout at close-range came to nothing when the ball was accidentally kicked away.
Darlington meanwhile made space out wide only for the crucial pass to go forward but despite other misjudged passes and fumbles the visitors held on to their advantage into the break.
The second half, however, belonged totally to Blackheath and this time the hosts made it count.
Within four minutes of the re-start, Foster came into the backline, as lineout ball was moved across field and found Kershaw out wide, and despite plenty of cover, the left-wing managed to squeeze across in the corner.
Sam Evans added the touchline conversion, and as the pressure pushed the visitors into conceding frequent penalties (nine in the second period), two further strikes from the Club fly-half nudged Blackheath ahead on 58 minutes.
The hosts continued to keep the hammer down, and in the 66th minute Dan Hiscocks moved ball off a scrum ten metres inside the Club half. Hennessey’s slick hands found Ollie Evans, and as the replacement at outside-centre, making his return to Club colours after seven years, produced a wonderful break, Foster was on hand, the full-back showing great pace to sprint home and put Blackheath clear.
Next Saturday, Blackheath once again play host, with Caldy the visitors to Well Hall. Kick-off is at 3.00 pm
Blackheath
Tries: Kershaw, Foster
Conv: S Evans 2
Pens: Hennessey, S Evans 2
Darlington Mowden Park
Tries: Walker, Fisher
Conv: Seals
Graham Cox
Blackheath Team
15 . Nick Foster
14 . Howard Packman
13 . Alex Brown
12 . Jake Hennessey
11 . Marcus Kershaw
10 . Sam Evans
9 . Jack Daly
1 . Matt Meeks
2 . Nathan Morris
3 . Stef North
4 . Jamie Ure
5 . Ed Taylor (Capt)
6 . Tom Stradwick
7 . Freddie Owen
8 . Steve Leonard
16 . Harry Fry
17 . Matt Collins
18 . Harry Holland
19 . Dan Hiscocks
20 . Ollie Evans
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