The conditions ranged from difficult to almost impossible in this contest. At least that’s a sentiment Joe Tarrant might agree with. Early in the second period, and with a ferocious hail storm in his face, the unfortunate Cambridge, and former Blackheath, full-back lost his footing coming to meet Leo Fielding’s punt forward, and as the ball bounced kindly for the …
Bishop’s Stortford 10 Blackheath 10
It rained and the wind blew. You may have noticed. If you made the journey to Hertfordshire and braved the elements, you were rewarded with a game that proved a huge slog, and one where both sides will feel unsatisfied with the end result. Bishop’s Stortford’s overall game management probably had the edge, and when their chances came, they executed …
Blackheath 29 Plymouth Albion 19
An enthralling game from start to finish, with both sides playing their part, using the fine conditions to good effect. Indeed, Albion outscored their hosts three tries to two, but for the second week running Mark Cooke produced a perfect kicking performance, the Club fly-half striking two conversions and five penalties in a 19-point haul. The last shot, for a …
Rams 18 Blackheath 31
A result which may have a significant impact on who gets promoted to the Championship, but perhaps more importantly for Blackheath, a league-double over a side who have impressed everyone, including apparently themselves, in their first-ever season in rugby’s third tier. Rams were on a roll going in to this match, with eight wins from their previous nine outings lifting …
Blackheath 48 Sale FC 29
Four tries in the final quarter rescued Blackheath from a 10-point deficit and gave them an emphatic victory and a fitting end to skipper Markus Burcham’s 200th appearance in Club colours. For most of the contest, however, it looked as if the almost-immaculate boot of Chris Johnson would hold sway, the Sale fly-half striking 19 of his side’s points, 14 …
Blackheath 27 Rosslyn Park 22
A controlled, disciplined, performance, and a much-coveted double for Blackheath over their south London rivals, and would-be league leaders. The Club started the contest in the ascendancy and, although a mistake early in the second half put them on the back foot briefly, recovered the initiative to take charge once more and claim a fine victory. ‘The game earlier in …
Richmond 19 Blackheath 8
A fierce, physical battle, as you’d expect between these two oldest of rivals. It was a game also where, for the most part, defences were firmly on top, but a contest that ultimately hinged on two moments around the hour-mark. On 55 minutes, following a high tackle, Mark Cooke opted for the long-range attempt at goal that would draw Blackheath …
Blackheath 28 Canterbury 17
Braving the elements, a crowd numbering just under one thousand witnessed a controlled, disciplined performance by Blackheath who ended comfortable winners against luckless Canterbury in a match dominated by the conditions. With the almost-relentless rain in the build-up, and frequent showers throughout, it was inevitable this contest would be a forward battle and, indeed, all four of the first half …
Blackheath 25 Old Elthamians 31
A finish befitting a game between two closely matched rivals, with Blackheath recovering from an 18-point deficit, scoring two tries in the final quarter to be within touching distance with seven minutes to play. The game ended with the ball over the opposition goal-line but, adjudged held up, and Elthamians could celebrate victory. For the most part though, Elthamians held …
Darlington Mowden Park 34 Blackheath 17
It’s very hard to compete for 78 minutes against a broadly equally-matched opponent with a man short, but in that sense, the fourteen men (or nineteen if you like) of Blackheath cannot be faulted for the effort and energy they showed in this ultimately disappointing and unsatisfying contest. In the end, however, the weight of numbers overcame them, and Darlington …