Photos courtesy of Debbie Lloyd
A result which moves Blackheath up to fourth place in the National League One table, while at the same time extinguishing any faint hope Rotherham had of stealing the title from current leaders, and likely champions, Richmond.
However, more than that for Blackheath, it was a fitting match, played under a bright sunny spring sky, to celebrate Markus Burcham’s 282nd league appearance, a Club record.
‘I said to the team beforehand, the best way to mark the occasion would be to win what I knew would be a very hard game,’ said the centre and former skipper, who first donned Blackheath colours in 2012.
‘Rotherham have had a good season, they’re a big physical team, and I knew it would be tough, but those are the best games to win. So, to put together some really good rugby and beat one of the form sides of the season was really pleasing.’
The Yorkshiremen weren’t slow in demonstrating their power, winning a penalty from the first scrum, and then working hooker Harry Newborn across for a converted try on just four minutes, but once Blackheath injected pace into the game, the hosts gained an upper hand.
Jordan Burns made a snipe around the fringes, before ball was moved wide for Augy Slowik to drive over, and the Club full-back added his second after Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas made the break.
Jake Lloyd’s neat chip was caught by Burns, the scrum-half returning the ball to his wing to glide down the right touchline for a beautifully worked try, only for Titans’ wing Cuchulain Livingston to immediately respond following a charge-down, but Burns showed blistering pace to cross for Blackheath’s fourth try having taken Tom Ffitch’s well-time offload.
Nevertheless, as the interval approached, and with Blackheath temporarily reduced to 14, Rotherham picked and drove infield, before wing Ronnie Randt squirmed across, keeping the visitors within range at 24-17 at the break.
Alex Witchell was denied a try to celebrate his 50th appearance for Blackheath, the final pass to the hooker adjudged a tad forward, but the second half was far more attritional, the Club defence working hard and only relieved by yet another Josh Smart turnover.
However, on 63 minutes, ball moved at pace from a scrum on halfway saw Leo Fielding, making probably his final home appearance before retirement, sending Lloyd haring down the right touchline. The wing was tackled short, but support promptly arrived in the form of Hirskyj-Douglas and Will Davis, followed by skipper Tom Baldwin to finish off and put daylight between the scores.
Loose-head Charlie Capps crossed for the visitors from a tap-and-go with three minutes remaining, but Blackheath finished confidently and, arguably, were denied a penalty try when Lloyd was halted, with what looked to many a no-arms tackle with the goal-line at his mercy.
Next Saturday Blackheath travel to the East Midlands to take on relegation-threatened Leicester Lions. Kick off at Westleigh Park is at the earlier time of 2.00 pm.
Blackheath
Tries: Slowik 11, 21, Lloyd 27, Burns 31, Baldwin 63
Conv: Ffitch 21, 31, 63
Rotherham
Tries: Newborn 4, Livingston 29, Randt 38
Conv: Hayes 4, 77
Attendance: 925
| 15 | . | Augy Slowik |
| 14 | . | Jake Lloyd |
| 13 | . | Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas |
| 12 | . | Markus Burcham |
| 11 | . | Jake Hennessey |
| 10 | . | Tom Ffitch |
| 9 | . | Jordan Burns |
| 1 | . | Archie Holland |
| 2 | . | Alex Witchell |
| 3 | . | Andy Boye |
| 4 | . | Tom Stradwick |
| 22 | . | Tex Cavubati |
| 6 | . | Josh Smart |
| 7 | . | Noah Sloot |
| 8 | . | Tom Baldwin (Capt) |
| 16 | . | Ollie Walliker |
| 17 | . | Will Davis |
| 18 | . | Rory Marsh |
| 19 | . | Jack Daly |
| 20 | . | Leo Fielding |
Graham Cox
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