Stephenson’s brace gives Blackheath their best yet!

Two second half tries from James Stephenson helped Blackheath fight their way back from a nine point deficit to claim their fifth consecutive victory and their first at Crow Trees in five visits.

The Club struck first to gain an early lead when right-wing Richard Bright chipped the Blaydon defence and won the race to touch-down for a 5-0 lead on just two minutes.

Blaydon’s response, however, was to punish Blackheath on three occasions as the visitors continually turned over possession.

Frazer Wilson made the most of an overlap on the left flank before his opposite wing David Clark was almost waved through a static Club defence for a second. Full-back Adam Armstrong answered with three-points from a penalty, but when Blaydon centre Fred Burdon squeezed in at the corner for another score, the home side seemed well in command at 17-8.

Nevertheless, as Blackheath gradually began to gain the ascendancy up front, they were rewarded with another Armstrong penalty prior to the interval, and although fly-half Andy Baggett responded for the hosts after the re-start, most of the second period belonged to the visitors.

Stephenson did brilliantly to thread a line through the Blaydon defence on 52 minutes, after neat handling from the Club midfield, for a converted try to bring Blackheath back within two-points. And then, after number-eight James Catt had a try disallowed for crossing and a forward pass cancelled out another opportunity, replacement scrum-half Jack Walsh managed to scurry around the Blaydon cover off a line-out before off-loading to Stephenson for the left-wing’s second of the match.

Nine minutes remained, during which time 17-year old Aiden Moss made his debut in the centre and announced his presence with a crucial tackle. But Blackheath held out against huge pressure and secured their most impressive win yet. Blackheath’s next SSE National League One fixture sees them take on London rivals Barking at Rectory Field on Saturday 22nd October.

The match is a 3.00 pm kick-off and the Club have a reduced admission price of £10 (accompanied U16s free of charge).

Blaydon Tries: Wilson, Clark, Burdon Conv: Baggett Pens: Baggett.

Blackheath Tries: Bright, Stephenson 2 Conv: Armstrong 2 Pens: Armstrong 2