Blackheath 38 Esher 10

A devastating opening 15 minutes set the platform for Blackheath’s best performance of the season to date, and a much needed victory in their attempts to escape the lower reaches of National League One.

Four of the Club’s six tries came in that opening salvo, as debutant props Jamie Kilbane and Cai Griffiths, along with returning skipper and second-row Tom Bason, helped to power Dave Allen across twice from line-out ball, while sandwiched in between, a break from Mike Canty at full-back, set field position for hooker Gavin O’Meara to cross.

Another returnee, left-wing Dan Hamilton, mopped up loose ball to send outside-centre James Ticknell on a run down the left touch-line and, with Simon Whatling at fly-half adding three conversions, Blackheath were 26-0 to the good.

The pace slowed as Esher eventually settled into their stride, their strong scrum providing the base for outside-centre Jack Cooke to cross, but the completion of Allen’s hat-trick, the open-side again driven across from a throw-in, re-asserted the hosts’ dominance and gave them a 31-5 lead at the break.

The best try of the contest came soon after the re-start as Tincknell carved through the visitors’ defence for his second try, but the second period couldn’t live up to the intensity of the first, the only further score falling to Esher’s replacement hooker Neil Sweeney, nine minutes from time.

Next Saturday Blackheath make the short journey round the south circular to face promotion challengers Rosslyn Park.  Kick-off at Priory Lane is 2.30 pm.

Blackheath

Tries:   Allen 3, O’Meara, Tincknell 2
Conv: Whatling 4

Esher

Tries:   Cooke, Sweeney