Coventry 39 Blackheath 3.

Almost the reverse scoreline to the two clubs’ last meeting at Well Hall in September, the only small consolation for Blackheath being their net advantage of a single point across the two games.

Ultimately, however, an afternoon the Club will not wish to dwell on. A physical, fractious encounter as one might expect between two sides with a long history of fixtures between them, but one not aided by a referee who struggled to keep a lid on the early niggle, and whose award of a red card to Gregor Gillanders on the half hour for an alleged strike to the head effectively sealed Blackheath’s fate.

That said Coventry held the edge even while the game remained something of a contest. The hosts are a mighty force at their Butts Park Arena home, their only defeat this season to date being at the hands of runaway National League One leaders Hartpury College, and a slender one at that, and if they have an ability, with most of their 1,200 strong crowd behind them, to work the officials in their favour, it is only to be applauded.

Blackheath had an early chance of points, but Leo Fielding’s long-range strike bounced away off the upright, and as the game progressed it was the mounting penalty count, which ended 18-5 in favour of the hosts, which dictated the pattern of play.

On 18 minutes Cov number-eight Darrel Dyer was driven across for the first try, and although Fielding got the visitors away with three points after a late charge on Simon Whatling, Tony Fenner added a penalty to his earlier conversion for the hosts following a line-out infringement. Then, as Tom Baldwin was dubiously yellow-carded at the re-start, and Gillanders left the field permanently (Coventry losing lock Tom Poole for ten minutes in the same incident), hooker Scott Tolmie piled across for a second try, and the West Midlanders led 15-3 at the break.

Any thoughts of a second period revival were snuffed out by the time the announcer had finished reading the half-time changes, as Fenner opened up the opposition straight from the re-start, the fly-half chipping ahead and wing Owain James touching down as Blackheath floundered, and as the penalties continued to land in touch (in contrast the visitors had to wait until the 51st minute for their first line-out) second-row Josh Peters drove over for the bonus point score.

A penalty try followed, as the best handling move of the match resulted in a five-metre scrum, and replacement back-row Tom Jubb added a sixth in the 74th minute, and although Blackheath, now down to 13 with Kieron Scutt in the sin-bin, rallied in the final moments, no consolation would come their way.

Next Saturday Blackheath look for better as they host Hull Ionians. Kick-off at Well Hall is at 3.00 pm.

Coventry.

Tries: Dyer, Tolmie, James, Peters, Penalty try, Junn.

Conv: Fenner, Maisey 2.

Pens: Fenner.

Blackheath.

Pens: Fielding.