Club produce the best yet (From News Shopper)

Club produce the best yet

5:09pm Sunday 30th September 2012 in Sport By Graham Cox

Blackheath 41 v Blaydon 23.

A storming display from Dave Allen inspired Blackheath to their best performance of the season to date, and to a fourth win which moves them up to second position in SSE National League One.

Against an in-form Blaydon side boasting a formidable set of forwards the Club, with their talismanic open-side back to his best form, not only provided the platform for six well-executed tries, but produced such a solid display in defence that the Tynesiders were only allowed a foothold in the final quarter when the result was beyond doubt.

That said, Blackheath will admit to owing their first try to a touch of good fortune. With the visitors already ahead, courtesy of an Andy Baggett penalty, had Sam Heard cleanly collected from an awkward bounce in the 13th minute, the Blaydon outside-centre would have had a clear run to the line. Instead, Richard Lankshear mopped up, and with referee Shane Lewis playing a good advantage, the Club wing raced down the left touch-line before finding full-back Mike Canty in support to complete the move. Fly-half Rory Teague converted well from out wide, and what might have been a 10-0 deficit was now a 7-3 advantage.

Teague added a penalty on 18 minutes, only to see it cancelled out by a Baggett strike for goal, but as the visitors failed to control the re-start, Allen collected and piled into the opposition defence. The Club pack drove its way forward and Allen regained possession to score in the corner.

Again the Blaydon fly-half nibbled back three points, but with their line-out working smoothly, Gethin Davies took clean possession on half-way, and with Allen and scrum-half Jack Walsh combining, Teague raced over close to the uprights for a 22-9 interval lead.

Straight from the re-start, Geoff Griffiths, with support from centre Richard Windsor, made a scything break into opposition territory, and although the Club wing was held just short, support was up quickly for flanker Tom Stradwick to dive over. Then, with Blackheath keeping the hammer down, number-eight James Catt broke open off the base of a five-metre scrum to feed Walsh for another converted try and a 36-9 lead with 54 minutes completed.

Blaydon at last got their driving maul functioning on 63 minutes and number-eight Jason Smithson was driven across, but Teague’s inch-perfect cross-field kick left Canty simply needing to catch and fall over for the hosts’ final score.

Lock Chris Wearmouth would ensure Blaydon had the final say as the Blackheath defence cracked under the pressure of a last-ditch assault from the north-easterners, but it changed little as Blackheath now find themselves within two league points of Ealing Trailfinders who visit Rectory Field in a fortnight. Before that, however, Blackheath travel to the outskirts of Manchester to take on Sedgley Park. Kick-off at Park Lane is at 2.30 pm on Saturday 6th October.

Blackheath.

Tries: Canty 2, Allen, Teague, Stradwick, Walsh.

Conv: Teague 4.

Pens: Teague.

Blaydon.

Tries: Smithson, Wearmouth.

Conv: Baggett 2.

Pens: Baggett 3.