Blackheath 12 Blaydon 29.

The rain relented and the sun came out early in the second period as Blaydon wiped away a nine-point deficit, and it kept on shining on the visitors as, with their superior pack, they cranked up the gears to leave Blackheath a floundering and well-beaten side at the final whistle.

As the hosts came under continual pressure at the set-scrum, inside-centre Andy Baggett’s fourth penalty in the 47th minute levelled the scores at 12-apiece, and with the ascendancy growing in their favour, Blaydon’s forwards took charge.

In the 63rd minute, Crows’ number-eight Gavin Jones ducked under the cover at a line-out, prop Trevor Davison off-loaded to Chris Wearmouth for the second-row to slide over the goal-line, and although Tom Chapman chased down to make the tackle on Thomas Bramwell after the wing had intercepted, the resultant throw-in enabled skipper and blind-side Keith Laughlin to drive across.

Andrew Foster at tight-head picked and drove over for a third try in the 71st minute, as the north-easterners kept the hammer down, and with fly-half Craig Willis adding a decent conversion, Blackheath were left adrift and in tatters.

Apart from knocking-on the greasy ball at the kick-off, and then conceding a penalty for Baggett’s first strike in the opening minute, the hosts had started well enough.

Dominant in the loose and with a massive territorial advantage, a collapsed maul in the eleventh minute saw Gavin O’Meara, in his 100th Club appearance, find Tom Bason from his throw after the ball had been kicked to touch. Tom Carlisle, making his home debut at fly-half, made a half-break, and Richard Windsor’s off-load allowed Mike Canty to squirm across in the right corner, Carlisle adding a well struck conversion from out wide.

Then, on the half-hour, a garryowen off a free-kick from Carlisle was fumbled in the Blaydon defence. O’Meara collected the loose ball at pace and Dave Allen was held short, but the Club open-side still found the perfect pass for Windsor to steam across for a 12-3 lead.

However, Allen’s pass was the exception. Poor handling and lack of precision meant further chances, which might have put clear daylight between the scores, were squandered. As the Blaydon scrum, which had Blackheath rolling backwards throughout the afternoon, gained more of an influence on the contest, Baggett (a persistent nuisance to Blackheath over many years in both Blaydon and Wharfedale colours) knocked over two further penalties to narrow the gap to just three points at the break, giving the Durham side the platform to power back in the second period.

Next Saturday Blackheath make the long journey north to the Yorkshire Dales to take on Wharfedale. Kick off at The Avenue, Threshfields is 3.00 pm.

Blackheath.

Tries: Canty, Windsor.

Conv: Carlisle.

Blaydon.

Tries: Wearmouth, Laughlin, Foster.

Conv: Willis.

Pens: Baggett 4.