Blackheath 38 Cinderford 29.

Five Blackheath tries in the opening half-hour proved too much of a mountain to climb for Cinderford, despite a spirited fight-back from the Gloucestershire side that, just for a brief moment, threatened the outcome.

The Club were on the scoreboard within three minutes, as right–wing Oyoni Glba grounded fly-half Alex Gallagher’s grubber-kick to score on debut, and with Dave Allen driven across twice from line-out ball the hosts raced into a 19-0 lead.

The Blackheath open-side also began the move for try number four, the best of the match, as Richard Windsor’s lovely inside ball saw fellow centre Markus Burcham across, and more dominant play in the loose and fine handling set up James Cleverly to bulldoze over for a try before left-wing Sam Baker responded for the visitors, making the score 33-5 at the break.

However, the second period saw a reversal in momentum.

Having replaced Allen in the Club back-row, Jesse Liston was mauled over on the hour to put some more daylight between the two sides, but not before the visitors had added to their tally with inside-centre Sam Hanks breaking through the midfield to score, and Baker crossing for his second from a blind-side move.

In the final ten minutes number-eight George Evans picked and drove over the goal-line, and Hanks glided through the midfield to complete his brace, but Blackheath finally re-gained the initiative to close out the dying moments.

Next Saturday Blackheath make the short journey up river along the Thames to Richmond continuing the 151 year rivalry between the two clubs that played the first game of rugby union in January 1863. Kick off at the Athletic Ground is 3.00 pm.

Blackheath.

Tries: Gbla, Allen 2, Burcham, Cleverly, Liston.

Conv: Gallagher 4.

Cinderford.

Tries: Baker 2, Hanks 2, Evans (George).

Conv: Norman, Evans (Lloyd).