Blackheath climb to fourth in National League One after dispatching Rotherham
Blackheath move up to fourth in the National League One table with a 31-24 home win against Rotherham, the result extinguishing any faint hope the visitors had of stealing the title from current leaders Richmond.
It was a fitting match, played under a sunny spring sky, to celebrate Markus Burcham’s 282nd league appearance – a Club record, writes Graham Cox.
“I said to the team beforehand that the best way to mark the occasion would be to win what I knew would be a very hard game,” said the centre and former skipper, who first donned Blackheath colours in 2012.
“Rotherham have had a good season. They are a big physical team, and I knew it would be tough, but those are the best games to win. So, to put together some really good rugby and beat one of the form sides of the season was really pleasing.
The Yorkshiremen were not slow in demonstrating their power, winning a penalty from the first scrum, working hooker Harry Newborn across for a converted try on just four minutes. But once Blackheath injected pace into the game, they gained an upper hand.
Jordan Burns made a snipe around the fringes, before the ball was moved wide for Augy Slowik to drive over. The Club full-back added his second after Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas made the break.
Jake Lloyd’s neat chip was caught by Burns, the scrum-half returning the ball to his wing to glide down the right touchline for a beautifully worked try, only for Titans wing Cuchulain Livingston to immediately respond following a charge down. Burns showed blistering pace to cross for Blackheath’s fourth try having taken Tom Ffitch’s offload.
As the interval approached and with Blackheath temporarily reduced to 14, Rotherham picked and drove infield before wing Ronnie Randt squirmed across, keeping the visitors within range at 24-17.
Alex Witchell was denied a try to celebrate his 50th appearance for Blackheath, the final pass to the hooker adjudged to be forward.
The second half was far more attritional, the Club defence working hard and only relieved by yet another Josh Smart turnover.
However, on 63 minutes, ball moved at pace from a scrum on halfway saw Leo Fielding, making probably his final home appearance before retirement, send Lloyd haring down the right touchline. The wing was tackled short but support promptly arrived in the form of Hirskyj-Douglas and Will Davis, followed by skipper Tom Baldwin to finish off.
Loose-head Charlie Capps crossed for the visitors from a tap-and-go with three minutes remaining but Blackheath finished confidently and arguably were denied a penalty try when Lloyd was halted, with what looked to many a no-arms tackle with the goal-line at his mercy.
Blackheath travel to relegation-threatened Leicester Lions tomorrow.
PICTURES: DEBBIE LLOYD
