Plymouth Albion 29 Blackheath 5

Perhaps it was inevitable.  Since the start of the year, Blackheath have enjoyed an immaculate record on home soil, culminating in the enthusiastically-greeted victory over local rivals Old Elthamian a week ago which secured fifth position in National League One.

Away from Well Hall, however, the Club’s travelling support have witnessed just one solitary win in 2018, this final encore proving as disappointing as any previous performances on the road.

Plymouth, on the other hand, with two further matches still to play, looked far less demob happy and, possibly with the memory of their narrow 32-31 loss at Blackheath on the opening day of the campaign, courtesy of Joe Tarrant’s last-ditch penalty, produced such an effective display in front of the large audience at Brickfields that the opposition were wiped out by the interval.

Blackheath’s only real scoring opportunity in the first period came in the second minute as Sam Evans, starting at fly-half, saw his long-range penalty drift just wide, but that and a few breaks from Geoff Griffiths, playing against his former club, were the only interruptions to a largely one-sided half.

Twice Albion drove across the goal-line from close-range line-out ball, first for hooker Jamie Salter, followed by tight-head Dan Pullinger.

Sandwiched between was arguably the best try of the match, as Kieran Hallett (Albion’s head coach donning the number 10 jersey as the result of an injury crisis at Brickfields which meant only four replacements listed on the bench) shrugged off the years to make a delightful break in midfield before the Club’s defence was stretched for second-row Lewis Pearson to cross.

Dean Squire added number try number four on the stroke of half-time for 22-0 as Blackheath were caught on the break, the outside-centre adding his second within two minutes of the re-start after intercepting an optimistic pass in the Club defence.

An improved Blackheath halted the flow and drove Harry Fry across from a five-metre tap-penalty on the hour, but it was far too little and far too late, and as the game became increasingly untidy a number of flare-ups punctuated the finale, culminating in a red card for Albion second-row Eoghan Grace

With the screen brought down Blackheath's National League One season, eight Club players now move on to form part of the Kent squad that will compete in the County Championship and the Bill Beaumont Cup which begins against Hertfordshire at Cheshunt RFC next Saturday.

On Saturday 12th May Blackheath will be hosting the South East London Sevens in aid of 'Cardiac Risk in the Young' at their Well Hall home in Kidbrooke Lane, an event for which organiser Emily Rutter expects a big turnout.

'It will feature sides from all over south-east London and there will be elite competitions for both men and women, as well as a social tournament,' said Emily, who plays for the Blackheath Women's team.

'The event will begin at 10 am, with the finals late afternoon and followed by music into the evening, and there will family fun with stalls raising money for the charity, gourmet food and bar available all day.'

Gate entry is £10, reduced to £5 for 16 and 17 year olds, and free for 15 and under.

Plymouth Albion

Tries:   Salter, Pearson, Pullinger, Squire 2

Conv:  Shepherd 2

Blackheath

Tries:   Fry