Esher 11 Blackheath 30.

It took eight attempts for Blackheath to achieve their first victory at Molesey Road. Now, in the space of just eight months they have two, and unlike the tight, three-point, win back in April, this latest success, in the murk of a foggy December afternoon, comes with the four-try bonus to add to their Christmas cheer and wipe away the disappointment of three defeats in the Club’s previous four outings.

With Kieron Scutt providing a solid foundation at tight-head, the visitors built the platform for their backs to operate from the outset. Having driven Esher off their own ball, after the initial kick-off had sailed directly into touch, Markus Burcham's intercept on five minutes led to Esher killing the ball for Leo Fielding to kick Blackheath into a lead they weren’t to relinquish, and as the Club continued to inject pace, scrum ball on halfway saw Geoff Griffiths and Tom Chapman attacking down the right flank, before ball was spread across field and Mike Perks appeared in the mist out wide on the opposite wing for the first try.

Stephen Boatman got Esher off the mark with a penalty at the end of the first quarter as the hosts hauled themselves into opposition territory, but a second opportunity to narrow the gap was pushed wide, and with Blackheath returning to the attack as the first period moved to a conclusion, Gregor Gillanders collected another exemplary Perks throw from the touch-line, before the Club hooker himself crashed over for his second score, Fielding adding the conversion for a 15-3 lead at the break.

With Esher enjoying a more effective scrum after the re-start, Boatman added his second strike on 49 minutes, but the EEE’s fly-half missed two more efforts which could have narrowed the gap further, while Fielding claimed three points at the other end on the hour mark.

Worse for the Surrey side was the reduction to 14-men for ten minutes for repeatedly failing to roll away at the breakdown, and as George Baker appeared for his debut, the replacement loose-head mopped up loose ball from a messy set-piece and, driving forward, support arrived to work Burchan across for a converted try.

But if Baker’s debut moment was creditable, Ruairi Fallon’s was exceptional! Within moments of joining the fray, the back-row was haring after Cook’s long hoof forward, outpacing the Esher backs before diving on the ball, and with possession secured, play was moved out wide for Jake Lloyd to storm across in the right corner.

Hugo Seccombe gained a modicum of satisfaction for the hosts at the death, the EEE’s number-eight moving blind off a scrum to rumble over from short range, but it will do little to lift the gloom of a side slipping towards the National League One danger zone, while Blackheath finish 2016 in fifth position, entrenched in the pack chasing runaway leaders Hartpury College.

After the Christmas break, the Club return to Well Hall in the New Year with the visit of Fylde on Saturday 7th January.

Esher.

Tries: Seccombe.

Pens: Boatman 2.

Blackheath.

Tries: Perks 2, Burcham, Lloyd.

Conv: Fielding 2.

Pens: Fielding 2.