Blackheath 22 Leicester Lions 19 – Blackheath Rugby

Noah Sloot’s try, with just two minutes remaining on the clock, rescued Blackheath from a calamitous spell post-interval, and in so doing maintained their fifth position in National League One at the halfway stage of the campaign.

The Club looked comfortable at the break, although only leading 5-0, but Leicester Lions emerged from the changing-room to launch a devastating blitz, scoring all nineteen of their points in only nine minutes, and having the opposition firmly on the rack, until the hosts regained enough composure to get over the line – just.

Indeed, despite currently loitering near the foot of the table, the Lions arrived at The Utilita on the back of successive wins.  In far better conditions than the stormy weather of late, the East Midlanders joined Blackheath in looking to play expansively, only for the flow to be interrupted by frequent penalties at the scrum – both front-rows incurring the wrath of referee Mike Lamb.

The lineout, however, belonged to Blackheath with both Fin O’Sullivan and Tex Cavubati outstanding in the second-row.  On nineteen minutes, as a dangerous tackle gave the Club field position, Billy Harding’s accurate throw set the maul from which the hooker broke off to crash over for his eighth try of the season, and the only score of the opening period.

However, if Blackheath had looked the more threatening in the opening period, that theory was quickly blown apart after the re-start.

Toby Cousins had been anonymous prior to the break, but now the right-wing became the Lions’ destroyer-in-chief as he outstripped almost the entire Club back division to curve a route to the goal-line from 60-metres.

Oli Burgess responded with three points to put Blackheath back in front, but only momentarily as Cousins again made the initial break, before ball was recycled across field and a neat punt forward from fly-half Tom Threlfall sat up for left-wing Jake Sterland to cross.

Three minutes later, and Cousins turned the Club defence inside-out again, this time from 70-metres and on the left flank, for his second try, and with Threlfall adding a second conversion, the visitors led 19-8.

However, as they emptied the bench of replacements, Blackheath gradually emerged from the rubble, and with Jack Daly back from injury, the scrum-half found Markus Burcham, the centre in turn timing his pass to perfection for Jake Lloyd to cut through the Lions’ defence for a converted score on the hour.

Frustration continued for the hosts, a fine turnover coming to nothing as the ball was kicked dead, followed by a yellow card, but as Burgess was high-tackled with time running low, the Club fly-half found an excellent kick to touch five-metres out.

Alex Witchell’s throw surprised Burcham at the base of the lineout, but as Blackheath picked and drove through nine phases, Sloot, with the aid of Witchell and Fin Gilmour, broke the Lions’ den for the winning score.

Next Saturday, Blackheath play their final match before the Christmas break as they host Bishop’s Stortford.  Kick-off at The Utilita Well Hall is at 3.00 pm.

Blackheath

Tries:   Harding 19, Lloyd 59, Sloot 78

Conv:  Burgess 59, 78

Pens:   Burgess 46

Leicester Lions

Tries:   Cousins 42, 51, Sterland 48

Conv:  Threlfall 42, 51

Attendance: 370

Photos: Nick King

Graham Cox