An outstanding performance from the Club pack laid the foundation for Blackheath’s fifth bonus-point victory of the 2024/25 National League One campaign, and their sixth win at Park Lane in seven visits.
Despite falling behind early on, an ever-improving set-piece and forward dominance enabled the visitors to reclaim parity by the interval before taking control in the second period, ensuring a result which makes this pleasant corner of Lancashire one of their more successful hunting grounds.
It didn’t start well though. On twelve minutes, an inside pass from Sedge hooker Ben Gregory found Nathan Pope, who in turn sent fellow centre, and skipper, Matt Riley under the uprights for the opening try.
Soon after, as the host side were kept on the front foot by Club errors, a long pass out wide created the space for Rhys Henderson, the wing producing a strong run to the corner and putting the hosts 12-0 ahead at the end of the first quarter.
Blackheath had already lost an early attacking lineout opportunity, and conceded penalties for tackle height, but as Park became guilty of the same infringement, Tom Ffitch was able to give the Club field position for Mike Etete to take lineout ball, and Billy Harding to pile through the maul to score.
Five minutes later, and the action repeated itself, only with Tom Baldwin collecting the ball, for the Club hooker to claim his second try and bring the visitors level.
However, it wasn’t just the forwards who excelled. Prior to half-time, Jordan Burns made a stunning blind-side break, only a fine tap-tackle from Henderson denying the scrum-half, but after the re-start came the key moment of the match.
Auguy Slowik’s kick forward didn’t look particularly menacing, but Jake Hennessey snatched the bobbling ball, before launching a weaving run, side-stepping a bamboozled Park defence for an exceptional try for the Club wing.
Then, a scrum penalty, another lineout take from the giant Etete, and Baldwin driving to the line before Burns finished off and 14-point lead.
Park weren’t done; having just produced a 50:22 from a clearance kick, Henderson cut a lovely diagonal line for his second try to keep the Lancastrians in touch, but a Ffitch penalty quickly put the visitors back beyond a converted score.
Henderson completed a fine hat-trick in the dying moments to complement an excellent game for the Sedge wing, as well as claiming a bonus-point for the Lancastrians, but only after Club loose-head Will Davis was driven across following another accurate Harding throw to put the result beyond doubt.
National League One takes a break next weekend before re-commencing on 9th November when Blackheath entertain Sale FC at the Utilita in Kidbrooke Lane. Kick-off is at 3.00 pm.
Sedgley Park
Tries: M Riley 12, Henderson 17, 59, 78
Conv: Glasse 12, 59
Blackheath
Tries: Harding 23, 28, Hennessey 42, Burns 52, Davis 68
Conv: Ffitch 23, 42, 52, Burgess 68
Pens: Ffitch 61
Attendance: 320
| 15 | . | Auguy Slowik |
| 14 | . | Jake Lloyd |
| 13 | . | Leo Fielding |
| 12 | . | Markus Burcham |
| 11 | . | Jake Hennessey |
| 10 | . | Tom Ffitch |
| 9 | . | Jordan Burns |
| 1 | . | Will Davis |
| 2 | . | Billy Harding |
| 3 | . | Rory Marsh |
| 4 | . | Mike Etete |
| 5 | . | Tevita Cavubati |
| 6 | . | Josh Smart |
| 7 | . | Noah Sloot |
| 8 | . | Tom Baldwin (Capt) |
| 16 | . | Alex Witchell |
| 17 | . | Archie Holland |
| 18 | . | Fin O’Sullivan |
| 19 | . | Oli Burgess |
| 20 | . | Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas |
Photo: Helen Watson
Graham Cox
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