Three tries in the first nine minutes stamped Blackheath’s authority on this contest on a warm sunny afternoon at Heywood Road, and set them on course for victory over one of National League One’s in-form sides.
Sale FC went into this match on the back of a run of five wins from six starts, including victory against league-leaders Richmond, but the club’s early blitz left the Cheshire side shell-shocked and playing catch-up from the outset.
In his final Club appearance, second-row Mike Etete made a forceful run, before Jake Hennessy carved open the Sale midfield, and with support arriving quickly, centre partner Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas was over the goal-line against his former club with less than three minutes played.
Hennessy was involved again as he combined with Jake Lloyd on the left flank, and with ball moved infield, Jordan Burns rounded the defence to cross beneath the uprights.
Moments later, and with advantage being played from a collapsed lineout, Tom Ffitch’s beautifully angled punt forward was gathered and grounded by Augy Slowik coming up from full-back, and with Ffitch converting all three scores, Blackheath led 21-0.
The energy of the opening minutes was never likely to be maintained throughout, and gradually the Sale pack gained a foothold, and as they probed and bashed the Club defences following lineout ball, number-eight Stone Priestley-Nangle found a hole for a converted score.
However, twice the Club defence turned possession from attacking mauls, and a loose Sale pass was snapped up by Burns, the scrum-half showing exceptional pace to outstrip the home defence from 75 metres, for the visitors’ fourth try and a half-time lead of 28-7.
Burns’ 50:22 soon after the re-start had Blackheath on the front foot once again, but Ffitch saw two penalty strikes drift wide as he looked into the sun, and for the third quarter defences held sway.
However, in the 68th minute, the fly-half, on his 50th appearance in Club colours, put the result beyond doubt as Blackheath created an overlap out on the left flank for a fifth score; two tries from the hosts in the closing stages, as the visitors took their foot off the gas, of little consequence.
‘We had a game-plan we worked hard on during the week and we executed it perfectly and enabled us to carve Sale open,’ said second-row and forwards coach Tom Stradwick.
‘Massive credit must go to the leaders who drove the messages, and in particular Vinnie Berrington (backs coach) who ran the attack, came up with the ideas. Simply outstanding.’
‘The communication in the defensive line, particularly in the second period, allowed us to get off the line, make dominant tackles, and turn possession. The commitment was exceptional today and the boys should be very proud of themselves.’
Next Saturday, Blackheath are back on home soil at The Utilita in Kidbooke Lane for the visit of Rams. Kick-off is at 3.00 pm.
Sale FC
Tries: Priestley-Nangle 20, Roberts 73, Brady 80
Conv: Robins 20, 73
Blackheath
Tries: Hirskyj-Douglas 3, Burns 6, 34, Slowik 9, Ffitch 68
Conv: Ffitch 3, 6, 9, 34
Attendance:
| 15 | . | Augy Slowik |
| 14 | . | Jake Lloyd |
| 13 | . | Jake Hennessey |
| 12 | . | Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas |
| 11 | . | Matt Armstrong |
| 10 | . | Tom Ffitch |
| 9 | . | Jordan Burns |
| 1 | . | Archie Holland |
| 2 | . | Alex Witchell |
| 3 | . | Rory Marsh |
| 4 | . | Tom Stradwick |
| 5 | . | Mike Etete |
| 6 | . | Josh Smart |
| 7 | . | Billy Harding |
| 8 | . | Tom Baldwin (Capt) |
| 16 | . | Ollie Walliker |
| 17 | . | Will Davis |
| 18 | . | Korede Sanusi |
| 19 | . | Jack Daly |
| 20 | . | Finn Gilmour |
Graham Cox
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