A big win for Blackheath and a crushing defeat for Esher who continue to struggle on their return to National League One after a season in the lower division. The Surrey side arrived at The Utilita having won just one of their opening six matches, conceding more points than any other team, and left with another half-century added to that tally.
For Blackheath it was a performance which demonstrated some superb handling and great offloading, particularly late-on in a second period which resembled Sevens rugby at times, but there were also moments of carelessness, notably during a chaotic ten-minute spell after half-time which kept the visitors in touch until the hosts took the game beyond reach in the final quarter.
The traditionalist might have preferred the opening 35 minutes, a far more controlled period, personified by skipper Tom Baldwin, making his 150th appearance in Club colours and making the crunching tackles and huge carries that have characterised his career since joining Blackheath in 2015.
The Club were quickly on top, second-rows Mike Etete and Tom Everard driving close, before Auguy Slowik came up into the line for Markus Burcham to send the full-back across with four minutes played.
EEEs fly-half Sam Morley responded with three points from a penalty, but opposite number Tom Ffitch picked ball off his toes and glided through a missed tackle to score, and when Billy Harding made ground off lineout, and play moved infield, Jordan Burns sent Etete through a gap for a 19-3 lead for the hosts.
However, Esher had their moments, and when Baldwin was yellow carded for an off-side five-metres out, Blackheath lost direction, conceding three tries while their captain was off the field.
A tap-and-go saw EEEs centre Luke Peters burrow over, and within a minute of the start of the second period, Ffitch’s attempted long pass found the hands of tall Ed Volley for an interception try, Morley adding both conversions to bring the visitors back within two-points.
The Club fly-half quickly made up for his error with a lovely break off lineout, Matt Armstrong, who proved a menace to Esher in open play throughout, then producing a great offload for Slowik to claim his second try, but Volley once again used his height to claim the re-start, the outside-centre gliding through some mystified defence before Morley’s long pass sent left-wing James Botterill over out wide.
However, Esher’s tackling proved equally ineffective and as Burcham and Archie Holland made ground off lineout, Etete smashed through the remaining cover and restored some breathing space for the hosts at 33-22 on 50 minutes.
Two yellow cards hampered the visitors further, and with ever-increasing dominance up front, Harding slid across at the base of the maul, after Etete had gathered the hooker’s lineout throw, and when Tevita Cavubati bashed his way forward after a massive shove from the Club scrum, fine hands from Josh Smart and Burcham found Jake Lloyd in acres of space for one of the easier tries of the wing’s career.
Esher kept going and with the game so open and loose, the visitors found consolation as great work from Morley sent wing Ben Robbins across for a four-try bonus, but Blackheath claimed the final word as they went through the phases for Holland to cross for the hosts’ eighth try.
Next Saturday Blackheath travels to Lancashire to take on Sedgley Park, kick-off at Park Lane is at 2.30 pm. The Club’s next home match is on 9th November against Sale FC.
Blackheath
Tries: Slowik 4, 44, Ffitch 23, Etete 34, 50, Harding 67, Lloyd 71, Holland 76
Conv: Ffitch 4, 34, 44, 50, 67
Esher
Tries: Peters 39, Volley 41, Botterill 46, Robbins 74
Conv: Morley 39, 41
Pens: Morley 16
Attendance: 407
| 15 | . | Auguy Slowik |
| 14 | . | Jake Lloyd |
| 13 | . | Leo Fielding |
| 12 | . | Markus Burcham |
| 11 | . | Matt Armstrong |
| 10 | . | Tom Ffitch |
| 9 | . | Jordan Burns |
| 1 | . | Will Davis |
| 2 | . | Billy Harding |
| 3 | . | Rory Marsh |
| 4 | . | Mike Etete |
| 5 | . | Tom Everard |
| 6 | . | Josh Smart |
| 7 | . | Noah Sloot |
| 8 | . | Tom Baldwin (Capt) |
| 16 | . | Alex Witchell |
| 17 | . | Archie Holland |
| 18 | . | Tevita Cavubati |
| 19 | . | Jake Hennessey |
| 20 | . | Mike Hoyt |
Photos: Nick King
Graham Cox
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