A breathless encounter from start to finish, and a credit to both sides who looked to play expansively, and at pace, throughout this National League One Kent derby.
However, six tries to nil is an emphatic statement of intent from Blackheath who were ruthless, clinical, and immaculate in defence for the entire 80 minutes on this glorious autumnal afternoon at The Utilita Well Hall.
Despite the one-sided look of the final tally though, much of the game was tightly contested, with just 14-points separating the sides on the hour-mark.
Four close-range lineouts in the opening ten minutes saw ball held up across the goal-line on one occasion, but eventually culminated in Billy Harding crashing over on the short side of the maul for the hooker’s eleventh try of the season.
TJs had an equal share of territory during the first period, but one attack was abruptly halted by Rory Marsh and Tom Johnson with a crunching tackle to dislodge possession, and scrambled defence alleviated danger when Judd’s centre Lewis Gjaltema kicked towards the corner with wing Tom Kendrick in pursuit.
When Blackheath had opportunity, however, they struck with precision. As Jordan Burns’ quickly-taken free-kick found its way to Jake Hennessey, the wing sped down the right flank, and with Burns and Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas up in support, the latter crossed the goal-line to put the hosts 14-0 ahead at the break.
Nathan Earle posed a consistent threat coming up from full-back for TJs, but Blackheath’s tackling remained ferocious, most notably from Alex Earnshaw, making his Club debut on the wing.
In addition, the Club back-row of Noah Sloot, Josh Smart and Archie Smeaton were outstanding at the breakdown, consistently slowing TJs ball and turning possession, but it was Hennessey’s rip on 60 minutes that led to Burns darting off the back of a ruck, and through a crack in defence, to race 40 metres and score.
TJs missed touch on four occasions from penalties, offering Blackheath easy get-outs, while the hosts made the most of their field position, and with the lineout working to perfection, and Johnson taking a short throw from Archie Bourne, Smart was driven over on 68 minutes.
Ed Dunford intercepted and raced 70 meters to add a try to the full-back’s five conversions, and former TJs scrum-half Kyle McGhie slid through a tiring defence to add try number six, completing Blackheath’s fifth bonus point win of the campaign.
‘It’s a new coaching group, and quite a big change in playing squad, so it’s good to see all the pieces we’ve been putting together over recent weeks start to click,’ said Club attack coach Seb Sherwood.
‘We probably let ourselves down a bit against Rosslyn Park a fortnight ago, so it’s nice to redeem that against another set of local rivals.’
Blackheath now hit the road for consecutive weekends, as they travel to Billesley Common in the West Midlands to take on Birmingham Moseley, followed a week later by a trip to Berkshire to face Rams. Both matches with a 3.00 pm kick off.
The Club’s next home fixture is on 8th November with the visit of Plymouth Albion.
Blackheath
Tries: Harding 11, Hirskyj-Douglas 40, Burns 61, Smart 68, Dunford 71, McGhie 77
Conv: Dunford 11, 40, 61, 68, 77
Attendance: 854
Blackheath
| 15 | . | Ed Dunford |
| 14 | . | Jake Hennessey |
| 13 | . | Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas |
| 12 | . | Raff Hollister |
| 11 | . | Alex Earnshaw |
| 10 | . | Sam Morley |
| 9 | . | Jordan Burns |
| 1 | . | Archie Holland |
| 2 | . | Billy Harding (Capt) |
| 3 | . | Rory Marsh |
| 4 | . | Fin O’Sullivan |
| 5 | Ed Scragg | |
| 6 | . | Josh Smart |
| 7 | . | Noah Sloot |
| 8 | . | Archie Smeaton |
| 16 | . | Archie Bourne |
| 17 | . | James Cornish |
| 18 | . | Andrew Boye |
| 19 | . | Tom Johnson |
| 20 | . | Kyle McGhie |
Photos: Nick King
Graham Cox
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