The Brigands welcomed Beccehamians II to Well Hall for a top-of-the-table clash. Beccehamians had started their league campaign strongly, dropping their only points to Sidcup the week before in a high-scoring encounter. They arrived sitting just below the Brigands in the standings.
The Brigands, still unbeaten, but after two bruising fixtures against Edenbridge and Old Elthamians, were showing the effects of the increased physicality this season. With both men’s teams in action and several key absentees, the Brigands lined up with a reduced bench – but plenty of confidence.
Beccehamians showed no sympathy. Arriving with a large and powerful squad, their plan was clear from the outset: big runners, direct carries. Unfortunately for them, the Brigands were well prepared. Previous weeks of high-intensity contests had honed their defensive sharpness. Fast line speed and effective chop tackling quickly nullified Beccs’ size advantage.
After fifteen minutes of patient phase play and ankle-hunting defence, the Brigands broke through. From a scrum inside Beccs’ 22, Alex McMeckan picked from the base to put returning scrum-half Alex Laurenti through with a neat inside step for the opening try. Laurenti’s confidence in his side was evident – declining the easy conversion, he dived over at the earliest opportunity.
Soon after, the home side’s superior fitness began to tell. Exploiting Beccs’ narrow defensive shape, the Brigands stretched the field and moved the ball wide. A clever nudge and chase from Jonny Moore helped contribute to extend the lead, part of a 22-point unanswered run.
Beccs eventually struck back, forcing penalties and establishing field position deep in Blackheath’s 22. Strong defence, including a crucial intervention from Rory Macleod, spawning under the ball, held them out temporarily. Captain Connor Mitchell spotted space in the backfield for a dropout, but guided by his toe, sent the ball straight back to the Beccs fullback, to restart the defensive set. A rare defensive mismatch on the edge finally allowed Beccs to cross for their first score, a fine conversion from the touchline adding the extras.
Blackheath hit back almost immediately. Leading 29-7 at halftime, Club’s only criticisms lay in conceding that solitary try – and perhaps in not converting a few more of their own chances (though, mercifully, with no Veo footage of the first half, those missed opportunities may be forgotten).
The second half saw the introduction of Juve Iragba on the wing. With the cameras now rolling, the Brigands’ pack began a set-piece masterclass. Tom Bullen claimed every lineout in sight, and the scrum simply refused to budge, giving the backs a perfect platform to play from.
Well-drilled set plays drew compliments even from the opposition, though one particularly polished move ended in embarrassment – and a Beccs scrum – under full recording scrutiny. Nathan Brindle began compiling a personal highlight reel, mixing delicate kicks with slicing runs through the defence.
Beccs continued to pose threats inside the 22. A dropped ball spared Club’s blushes once, and a driving maul nearly crossed before James Sheldon somehow emerged from its centre with the ball in hand. Beccs were more clinical next time, taking a quick tap penalty to score their second try.
As before, the Brigands responded clinically. With the score extended to 58-12 and Beccs struggling with injuries, the match was called with eight minutes remaining.
While the backs may have claimed the headlines for their tries, it was the forwards’ defensive steel and dominance at the set piece that set the platform for victory.
History will record Alex Omeyer as Man of the Match, as the Brigands stay top of Kent Counties 5. Both the Brigands and the Bandits now take a short rest before the Brigands return to action away at Greenwich on 8 November.
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