Esher Cardinals 31-39 Club XV
After a couple of barren Saturdays following that most entertaining 14 try draw at Barnes, the Club XV were back in league action away to Esher Cardinals.
The game played in cold and damp conditions throughout, kicked off an hour before the first team match and playing against a slight slope, Blackheath were quick out of the blocks and dominated possession throughout the first half hour. Good lineout ball from Reyhan Taraq in particular, provided a sound platform for a talented back line led by Jake Hennessey at fly half.
Gilmour and Lloyd, who also scored a good try, made the gain line time and again with Mike Hoyt at 8 controlling things at the breakdown and providing good second phase ball. Good defence at this stage was exemplified by some great hits from Lawrence Ticehurst and the centre partnership of Gilmour and Lloyd.
Training ground moves finished off on three occasions by the flyer that is Ollie Kitto helped put Blackheath up by 22-5 on the half hour only for them to take their foot off the gas and enable Esher to go into halftime 10-22 down, a score which rather flattered them.
The second half saw Esher make further inroads. Poor discipline from Blackheath, who gave away a total of 13 penalties, really did undo things for a side that played so well in the first half.
Despite a good try from skipper Alex Witchell, Esher were soon ahead 31-29 with just 10 minutes remaining.
Blackheath, staring down the proverbial barrel, won a succession of good lineouts and from a good catch and drive Mac Crawford was able to dot down for a score which was well converted by Jake Hennessey to make the score 31-36
The win was put beyond doubt with a cooly taken penalty on the 80 minutes mark, by Jake Hennessey.
In the end this was a hard-fought win for the Club XV though it should never have been so given their first half dominance. Credit to Esher, coached by ex-Club stalwart, Chris Kibble, for their comeback. The win puts Blackheath back to the top of the table in their league.
Tries: Kitto (3) D.Lloyd, Witchell, Crawford
Cons: Hennessey (3)
Pens: Hennessey
| 15 | CAMINATI, Fillipo |
| 14 | TICEHURST, Laurence *+ |
| 13 | GILMOUR, Findlay |
| 12 | LLOYD, Dafydd + |
| 11 | KITTO, Oliver |
| 10 | HENNESSEY, Jake |
| 9 | DALY, George |
| 1 | CORNISH, James |
| 2 | WITCHELL, Alex (C) * |
| 3 | GOODRUM, Jed + |
| 4 | SANUSI, Korede * |
| 5 | TARAQ, Reyhan + |
| 6 | DRENNAN, Anthony |
| 7 | CRAWFORD, Maclaren |
| 8 | HOYT, Mike |
| 16 | MUSA-LUCAS, Aaron |
| 17 | TICEHURST, Nathaniel *+ |
| 18 | GOODWIN, Mike |
| 19 | OWENS, Charlie |
| 20 | EDEH, Ben |
Craig Molloy
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