Tynedale 40 Blackheath 19.

 

Not for the first time Blackheath have found themselves making the long trek home from the banks of the River Tyne, having suffered the indignity of a heavy defeat.

 

Close to Hadrian’s Wall and the Roman Fort at Corbridge, Tynedale Park has itself proved something of a fortress over the years to all visitors, Blackheath included with just one success in their previous six visits.  This term, however, has seen a change in fortunes for the Nortumberland club with, after a decent start of six wins from ten starts, a run of 16 consecutive defeats has left them second from bottom of the table.

 

More than likely then that they would come out and throw everything at the opposition in their penultimate home game in a bid to salvage National League One rugby for an eighth campaign.  That they did so, in such an emphatic manner, taking advantage of a lukewarm Blackheath, deserves immense credit.

 

Not for the first time also, Ben Frankland proved to be a chief scourge of the visitors, the outside-centre clearly hankering after his former role of flanker, burrowing through for a try midway through the first period after his pack had picked and driven forward, and then joining a 15-metre shove off a line-out to add a second on 72 minutes, taking his tally to ten in the two clubs’ last five meetings.

 

But it will be the three penalty tries conceded at the set-scrum that will haunt Blackheath the most.  Two sandwiched Frankland’s first half efforts to put the hosts in the ascendancy early on (even after they gifted Blackheath the first score on five minutes as Jesse Liston strolled over from lost possession) and the third after the visitors had somehow clawed their way back to temporary parity after the break.  Indeed, such was their dominance, that only throughout the entire afternoon did Blackheath get clean ball away from a set-piece which was pulverised by both Tynedale and referee Jack Makepiece.

 

Blackheath's best moments came either side of half-time.  Jake Lloyd scored his second try in two appearances after, having been restored to full complement following two sin-binnings, a quickly taken tap-penalty saw ball spread across field.

 

Given the conditions, Ryan Squires’ conversion from out wide deserved the applause it gained from the partisan Northumberland crowd, but the Club wing had an easier kick to level at 19-apiece after, continuing with the tap and go option (the strong wind made the line-out something of a lottery) and going through the phases, Geoff Griffiths crossed after the break.

 

But the momentum couldn’t be maintained.  As Tynedale gained ground their advantage was soon restored with their third penalty try, and as Frankland was driven over to complete his brace, and Daniel Temm touched down at the base of yet another powerful scrum, the Tynesiders gained five priceless points in their battle against relegation.

 

Easter weekend sees National League One take a break, but Blackheath return to action on 11th April when they host league-leaders Ealing Trailfinders on the Club's annual Ladies Day. 

 

Kick-off at Rectory Field is 3.00 pm.

 

Tynedale.

 

Tries:   Penalty try 3, Frankland 2, Temm.

Conv:  Connon 5.

 

Blackheath.

 

Tries:   Liston, Lloyd, Griffiths.

Conv:  Squires 2.