Blackheath 29 Loughborough Students 19.

It’s always a relief to get the opening win of the new campaign under your belt and with both sides entering this contest in search of a first success it was Blackheath who breathe more easily, though perhaps only just.

For the first 41 minutes at least though, the Club were largely in the ascendancy, moving the ball at pace, dominating the set-scrum and disrupting the opposition line-out.

Alex Gallagher got them away with three-points as many minutes, and the fly-half was the recipient of a fine off-load from skipper and second-row Tom Bason to cross for the opening try.

Loughborough found some forward momentum to drive captain and open-side James Freeman across in the 26th minute, but Blackheath’s control returned to force hooker Gavin O’Meara over from a close-range line-out before, with James Cleverly magnificent at tight-head, number-eight James Catt touched down at the base of a set-piece scrum prior to the interval.

Club full-back Mike Canty scored the best try of the match within a minute of the re-start after a wonderful break from centre Markus Burcham in midfield, and with the lead increased to 29-7 it looked as if the hosts might stretch away.

However, Blackheath’s propensity to kick away possession and concede soft penalties allowed the Students the better of the remainder of the contest and Josh Sharp slotted four successful penalties, the Students’ fly-half narrowly missing with a long-range fifth attempt to claim a losing bonus point.

Next Saturday Blackheath travel to Hertfordshire to take on Old Albanian. Kick off at the Woollams Playing Fields is 3.00 pm.

Blackheath Tries: Gallagher, O’Meara, Catt, Canty Conv: Gallagher 3 Pens: Gallagher Loughborough Students Tries: Freeman Conv: Sharp Pens: Sharp 4