Photos courtesy of Grant Williams (https://www.grantwilliamsphotography.com/).
Hard-fought and physical as battles between these old rivals often are, but ultimately it was Rosslyn Park who ran out comfortable winners to claim a league-double over the Club for this term.
Lying in second place in National League One at the start of the day, Blackheath arrived at Priory Lane with a confidence which seemed justified in the opening minutes.
Winning a series of penalties to gain territory, the visitors fluffed their first opportunity, but a 50:22 from Ed Dunford, returning at full-back, re-set the attacking platform, and as Ed Scragg collected the throw, Billy Harding drove over to open the scoring.
Park had started the season like a train, winning eight of their first nine matches, but four losses from their next five dropped them out the top places, and with their previous week’s match at Moseley postponed, the Surrey side were without a game for nearly a month.
Nevertheless, once settled, it was the hosts who began to gain the momentum, getting on the front-foot as they went through the phases, while their defence proved robust, continually causing Blackheath to lose ball in contact.
Had the pass not gone forward, wing Benji Marfo looked to have a clear run to the line on 18 minutes, but soon after, as Park consistently got over the gain-line, fly-half Bill Johnston popped ball up for centre Tom Stanton to juggle and dive over beneath the uprights.
As half-time approached, number-eight Cameron King hit a great diagonal line to score off first-phase ball, and with Bill Johnston adding a penalty to his two conversions, Park led 17-7 at the break.
The advantage was extended further within three minutes of the re-start, as King ripped possession, and skipper and blind-side Jack Digby dived over for a third converted try, giving Blackheath a mountain to climb, but the visitors at least managed to get to base camp.
Harding peeled off the maul to crash over in the corner for the hooker’s second try (and 31st of the season), and from the base of the scrum Finn Osborne showed a wonderful side-step to power over, Sam Morley’s conversion bringing Blackheath within five points.
However, just as quickly the momentum switched back as Blackheath conceded penalties, and with a pile of Park bodies driving across from close-range for hooker Charlie Piper to claim the try, daylight was restored in favour of the hosts at 29-19.
Tetchiness crept in, and both sides were temporarily reduced to 14-men, before Blackheath were handed the opportunity of a one-man advantage for a deliberate knock-on.
However, the kick to touch went long, and it was Blackheath who paid the price for loss of discipline, conceding ground for Park full-back Joe Luca Smith to score at the close.
Next Saturday, Blackheath are back on home soil at The Utilita in Kidbrooke Lane for the visit of Dings Crusaders. Kick-off is at 3.00 pm.
Rosslyn Park
Tries: Stanton 22, King 37, Digby 43, Piper 63, Smith 80
Conv: Johnston 22, 37, 43, 80
Pens: Johnston 40
Blackheath
Tries: Harding 7, 48, Osborne 55
Conv: Morley 7, 55
Attendance: 1000
| 15 | . | Ed Dunford |
| 14 | . | Jake Hennessey |
| 13 | . | Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas |
| 12 | . | Luke Pollock |
| 11 | . | Oscar Daniel |
| 10 | . | Sam Morley |
| 9 | . | Jordan Burns |
| 1 | . | Archie Holland |
| 2 | . | Billy Harding (Capt) |
| 3 | . | Rory Marsh |
| 4 | . | Fin O’Sullivan |
| 5 | . | Ed Scragg |
| 6 | . | Archie Smeaton |
| 7 | . | Noah Sloot |
| 8 | . | Finn Osborne |
| 16 | . | Archie Bourne |
| 17 | . | James Cornish |
| 18 | . | Will Jameson |
| 21 | . | Kyle McGhie |
| 19 | . | Matt Dalrymple |
Graham Cox
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