Blackheath 25 Loughborough Students 29.

Yusuf Ibrahim was seconds away from signing-off his tenure as Blackheath performance director with a win, only to have it stolen away at the last.

With the Club desperately defending a one-point advantage going into added time, a quick tap-penalty enabled Loughborough’s electric back division to send full-back Craig Holland across for the winning score.

But both teams can take credit for their contribution to a fine open game, although Blackheath would ultimately pay for a poor first quarter.

With the Students dominating in every department, a successful strike through the uprights from fly-half Andy Hall was followed up by a penalty-try for a scrum infringement, and a further score when hooker Tom Crozier crossed from close-range for a 17-0 lead.

Left-wing Liam Gibson shrugged off tackles for a converted try to bring Blackheath into contention, and as the tempo quickened after the break, the lead was destined to change four times.

Mike Canty, playing at outside-centre, dummied over for the hosts after the re-start, and fly-half Rory Teague’s conversion, along with two penalties, put the Club in front, but Loughborough skipper and wing Chris Kinloch carved an opening for himself to put his side back in front on the hour.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure and, in the 73rd minute, a line-out move saw centre Sean Moan (in his 103rd and final appearance in Club colours) collect and send wing Tom O’Flaherty on a diagonal run for the slenderest of leads, but Blackheath failed to close the game down, allowing the Students the opportunity to score at the death.

Blackheath.

Tries: Gibson, Canty, O’Flaherty.
Cons: Teague 2.
Pens: Teague 2.

Loughborough Students.

Try: Penalty try, Crozier, Kinloch, Holland.
Conv: Hall 3.
Pens: Hall.