Blackheath 33 v Old Albanian 8.

A third consecutive victory for Blackheath, who made heavy weather of it at times, but ended with a comfortable five try win to keep them in fifth position in National League One.

The Club were ahead after just three minutes as second-row George Oram crossed after Ollie Lyons, playing at number-eight, had broken to the goal-line, Ryan Squires adding the first of four conversions for a 7-0 lead, but sustained pressure was hampered by the gusty wind affecting control at the line-out, and with both sides struggling to hold on to possession at times.

OA's only first half excursion into the opposition twenty-two resulted in a penalty from fly-half Richard Gregg, but Blackheath roused themselves to send Squires across, the right-wing gliding over in the right corner following set-scrum in front of the uprights, giving his side a 14-3 advantage at the interval.

It took something a little more opportunist to create the next score as full-back Mike Canty broke away at pace before left-wing Geoff Griffiths made use of the overlap to cross on 56 minutes, only for Albanian scrum-half Jordi Pasqualin to respond quickly for the visitors from a tap-penalty.

But although Blackheath required a couple of important turnovers from Markus Burcham to keep the Hertfordshire side at bay, Dave Allen hoofed the ball forward from half-way before the open-side collected a kind bounce to race across in the corner for the bonus point score. And in another breakaway move at the very death, Griffiths and Canty combined for the former to add his second try and Blackheath’s fifth. Next Saturday, Blackheath make the long journey to the north-east to face Blaydon, before returning to Rectory Field a week later to take on Wharfedale. Blackheath.

Tries: Oram, Squires, Griffiths 2, Allen.

Conv: Squires 4.

Old Albanian.

Tries: Pasqualin.

Pens: Gregg.