Blackheath 25 v Sedgley Park 9

A terrific second half display from Blackheath, to make it three wins from their last four outings, but never easy against a spirited Sedgley Park.

After turning around at the interval with a slender one-point advantage, the Club scored three tries to add to one in the opening period, securing a first bonus-point victory since October.

In a game that was scratchy at times, and included five yellow cards, it was the visitors who opened the scoring.

As Blackheath put themselves under pressure with unforced errors, Tigers’ wing, and top points scorer, Steve Nutt kicked the first of three penalties, but Club inside-centre Sam Windsor quickly levelled as Sedgley Park came over the top at the re-start.

On 19 minutes, Club skipper and second-row Tom Bason, on his return after injury, twisted to steal opposition line-out ball, number-eight Ledua Jope took the ball into contact and Sean Moan stormed into opposition territory, the outside-centre timing his pass to perfection to send wing Tyson Lewis racing in from 30 metres for the first try.

Windsor converted but two further penalties from Nutt reduced the deficit to 10-9 at the break.

However, from the outset of the second period Blackheath stamped their authority on the contest.

Two penalties gave the hosts field position, and with lock Ally Vanner, taking clean line-out ball, The Club pack, with Jamie Harris in great form on the blind-side, drove open-side flanker Dave Allen across for his 13th try of the season.

Then, despite finding themselves under pressure with the temporary loss of Jope to the sidelines, Pete Squires, on at fly-half for the injured Matt Vaughan and making his Rectory Field First XV debut, produced turnover ball on his own goal-line.

Luke Baldwin broke up field and into opposition territory before the scrum-half found a beautiful off-load for Lewis collect his second try in a move that went the length of the field.

With both scores going unconverted, Sedgley Park still posed plenty of threat.

But on 73 minutes Blackheath once again found themselves with an attacking line-out close to the visitors’ goal-line, and although the ball which moved across field was slow, prop James Cleverly was still able to power over in the left corner to put the result beyond doubt.

Next Saturday Blackheath travel to Cinderford in a 2.30 pm kick-off.

Blackheath Tries: Allen, Lewis 2, Cleverly. Conv: Windsor. Pens: Windsor.

Sedgley Park Pens: Nutt 3