Blackheath 48 Cinderford 35

A thrilling second half played at a furious pace, with Blackheath coming from behind to defeat a Cinderford side who never knew when to lie down, and who will possibly feel a little unlucky to end up as many as 13-points adrift.

In the end, however, Blackheath’s success came from an inspired performance at scrum-half from Luke Baldwin, allied to a growing forward dominance, which saw the hosts score five second-half tries and finish firmly in front.

The Club had started the best. Second-row Neil Dewale was driven over on four minutes after fly-half Mark Woodrow had given the visitors an early lead with a penalty, but tries from wing Kyle Palm, put over in space on the right, and hooker Sam Wilkes, driven over from a close-range line-out, helped the visitors to a seven-point half-time lead.

Baldwin it was though who sparked the Club into life after the break, darting off the base of a ruck to wriggle over for a converted try that levelled the match at 20-20.

Two penalty tries in the 49th and 63rd minutes, given on each occasion for infringements as the Club pack drove for the goal-line, put Blackheath in the ascendancy, only for Cinderford to respond on each occasion with scores from flanker Luke Allen and a second for Wilkes.

Sam Windsor’s perfect kicking display just kept Blackheath in front, however, and two late tries from full-back Ralph Smith (on home debut) from a move started deep in his own half, and at the death from Tyson Lewis when the hosts worked an overlap from open play, gave the Club maximum points.

This latest victory makes it six from eight starts for Blackheath this term and keeps them in third place in National League One.

Next Saturday the Club make the relatively short journey to second placed side Cambridge at Granchester Road, a venue where they’ve not won in four visits.

For those unable to travel regular updates can be heard on BBC Radio Kent.

Blackheath Tries: Dewale, Baldwin, Penalty try 2, Smith, Lewis. Conv: Windsor 6. Pens: Windsor 2.

Cinderford Tries: Palm, Wilkes 2, Allen. Conv: Woodrow 3. Pens: Woodrow 2, Davies.