Plymouth Albion 20 Blackheath 5.

Brickfields is seldom an easy venue to visit, particularly in the rain sodden conditions that welcomed the visitors on this trip and which favoured the home side’s bigger, heavier pack.

Nevertheless, Blackheath will rue the missed opportunities that came their way in this tightly fought contest between the third and fourth placed sides in National League One, particularly during a third quarter when they had ample possession and territory to overturn, what was then, a mere five-point deficit, before a late penalty and breakaway try put the gloss on the score for the hosts.

Credit, though, must go to Albion for some outstanding defence, especially when temporarily reduced to 14-men midway through the second period, and for their dominance of the opening 25 minutes which effectively sealed the match.

Kieran Hallett opened the Devon side’s account in only the fourth minute as Blackheath fell off-side, and Albion's fly-half, and newly-appointed player-coach, added the conversion after Plymouth's forwards, with their superior scrum which had the Club under huge pressure during the early salvoes, had gained field position and captain and number-eight Herbie Stupple drove across from a line-out.

However, once Blackheath did gain a foothold in Plymouth territory, they made it count. Keeping the wet ball alive during numerous phases, a first excursion eventually broke down, but on the stroke of half-time, Markus Burcham slipped a couple of tackles, and with the Club skipper reaching out across the goal-line, the visitors were back within a score, trailing 10-5 at the break.

It was the only time though, Blackheath were destined to apply the finishing touches to the opportunities they worked so hard to create. As the rain continued to sweep across Brickfields following the re-start, the visitors, led by the massive efforts of the exceptional Devin Montgomery who worked tirelessly to drive into the heart of the opposition, maintained the momentum with which they’d completed the first period.

Three times, however, close range line-out ball was fluffed, a missed penalty to touch spoilt a fourth chance, and Leo Fielding, whose goal-kicking had been so majestic against Macclesfield a week earlier when it mattered less (and admittedly in more favourable conditions!) saw a penalty attempt slip wide of the mark.

In fact it wasn’t until the final ten minutes that Albion made any further inroads into Club territory, but Hallett’s 74th minute penalty for side entry pushed the Devonians beyond a converted score, and as Blackheath looked in vain one more time to rupture the opposition defences and salvage the bonus point that now evaded them, the ball fell loose for wing Robin Wedlake to pick up and sprint 50 metres and score, flattering the hosts and maintaining their unbeaten home record. The defeat drops Blackheath to fifth in the table as the second half of the season begins next week with the short away trip to Esher next Saturday in the final round of fixtures in 2016. After the Christmas break, the Club return to Well Hall in the New Year with the visit of Fylde on Saturday 7th January.

Plymouth Albion.

Tries: Stupple, Wedlake.

Conv: Hallett 2.

Pens: Hallett 2.

Blackheath.

Tries: Burcham.