Blackheath 12 – Blaydon 29

A barnstorming second half, typical of all their games this season, gave Blaydon a well deserved second away win. Both sides were guilty at times of failing to hang on to good possession but in the opening quarter it was Blackheath who made the better use of theirs.

Andrew Baggett had given Blaydon the best of starts in the 2nd minutes with the first of his 4 penalties when the home team infringed at a scrum only for the visitors to concede 2 tries within the half-hour.

Full-back Mike Canty found himself unmarked on the wing to run in a simple try which was enhanced by John Carlisle, a late replacement for a colleague injured in the pre match warm-up. Flanker Dave Allen then touched down from a driving maul and Blackheath were 12-3 ahead, but that was to be the end of their domination and the home scoreboard remained unchanged for the remainder of the game.

With the Blaydon forwards taking control Baggett reduced the deficit with a brace of penalties to make it 12-9 at the break and then levelled the scores 2 minutes into the second period.

The rampant visitors went on settle matters with 3 tries in 8 minutes to which Blackheath had no answer. Chris Wearmouth in typical fashion went over from a driving maul, skipper Keith Laughlin finished off some terrific forward play with a try in the corner and finally prop-forward Andrew Foster applied the coup de grace after a multiphase movement.

Craig Willis took over the kicking role, Baggett having left the field injured, and landed a good conversion with 20 minutes still remaining, but the game was well and truly over.

John Brennan