Blackheath brought crashing back down to earth

By Graham Cox

Blackheath were brought crashing back down to earth with a bump as they followed up an emphatic victory over National League 1 leaders Coventry with a 32-21 loss at Hull Ionians on Saturday.

Club had a gift of a start as Jake Lloyd snatched a pass being fired along the Ionians’ back line to sprint away for a 7-0 lead.

Geoff Griffiths’ attempt to pull the ball towards him close to the Club goal-line resulted in it being swatted forward and directly into touch, and with Blackheath temporarily reduced in number, Hull had the space to launch a move down the right flank, Joe Allott levelling the score on 10 minutes.

Markus Burcham’s neat pass following line-out ball sent Harry Bate on an arcing 50-metre run to the goal-line at the end of the opening quarter, but sandwiching the try were two well-struck penalties from Ionians’ fly-half Greg Lound.

James Sanderson crashed over out wide for a deserved 18-14 advantage for the hosts at half-time.

Joe Tarrant dummied and squirmed through the defensive line to release Leo Fielding for the Club’s third try, and just for a moment there was hope that the visitors had rekindled the previous week’s form.

Needless penalties were Blackheath’s downfall and James Tincknell touched down – Lound adding the conversion for a 25-21 lead.

Wilson rounded the defence for a fourth try, ensuring the Yorkshiremen’s first victory since November.

Blackheath return to Well Hall on Saturday to take on Birmingham Moseley (3pm).