Possibly the toughest stronghold in domestic rugby’s National League One to breach, and Blackheath will know they came very close to doing so.
In a game where the points margin only stretched beyond a converted try for a total of eight minutes, the Club went into the final quarter with a six-point lead, and seemingly with the impetus turning in their favour.
However, roared on by a crowd in excess of 1,300 passionate Devonians, Plymouth Albion stepped up a gear in the closing stages, and two tries from left-wing Craig Duncan saw the hosts to a bonus-point victory.
Enjoying a welcome return from injury, Leo Fielding made early incursions in the midfield for Blackheath, but it was Albion who struck first, as scrum-half Jack Oulton spotted a gap on the blind-side of a ruck to scamper down the left touchline for the first try.
Full-back Tom Putt soon added a penalty to an excellent conversion, but although Tom Ffitch missed with a strike at the other end the Club fly-half found the conversion from out wide after turnover ball was moved through quick hands with Andy Boye and Jake Lloyd making ground for Matt Armstrong to score in the corner.
Albion again found space on the left touchline, as a lineout ball was returned to Rhys Williams for the hooker to storm down the left flank for another well-converted try, but Ffitch struck a long-range penalty to reduce the deficit to 17-10 at the break.
Two further Ffitch penalties closed the gap to a single point within ten minutes of the restart, and it was soon after than Blackheath took the lead for the only time.
Jake Hennessey and Fielding made the initial hole in midfield, and as Armstrong found Auguy Slowik, the Club full-back sent Lloyd down the right touchline, before receiving the inside pass from his wing to race over for a converted try.
However, sometimes a single moment can alter the momentum of a game significantly, and one such event occurred on the hour-mark. As Jordan Burns grounded across the goal-line for a try which would have put Blackheath 13-points ahead, play was hauled back for a neck-roll, and a superb touch placed Albion firmly back in Club territory where they were destined to stay for almost all the remaining minutes.
Now the visitors needed to defend, and although they did so resolutely, Abion kept ball alive through numerous phases, eventually creating the space for Duncan to go over in the corner, the wing keeping his feet to round behind the uprights for the easy conversion.
The hosts continued to keep the hammer down, only for Blackheath to turn possession, but the clearance was gathered and moved wide quickly, Duncan then showing an exceptional change of pace to evade the cover and secure the win.
Next Saturday Blackheath are back at the Utilita Well Hall for the visit of Esher. Kick-off is at 3.00 pm.
Plymouth Albion
Tries: Oulton 17, Williams 32, Duncan 65, 76
Conv: Putt 17, 32 Legg 65
Pens: Putt 24
Blackheath
Tries: Armstrong 29, Slowik 56
Conv: Ffitch 29, 56
Pens: Ffitch 39, 44, 49
Attendance: 1310
| 15 | . | Auguy Slowik |
| 14 | . | Jake Lloyd |
| 13 | . | Leo Fielding |
| 12 | . | Jake Hennessey |
| 11 | . | Matt Armstrong |
| 10 | . | Tom Ffitch |
| 9 | . | Jordan Burns |
| 1 | . | Will Davis |
| 2 | . | Ollie Walliker |
| 3 | . | Andy Boye |
| 4 | . | Mike Etete |
| 5 | . | Tom Everard |
| 6 | . | Ben Charnock |
| 7 | . | Josh Smart |
| 8 | . | Tom Baldwin (Capt) |
| 16 | . | Alex Witchell |
| 17 | . | Rory Marsh |
| 18 | . | Billy Harding |
| 19 | . | George Daly |
| 20 | . | Oli Burgess |
Graham Cox
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