Blackheath 7-24 Rams Titans: Henderson makes return as Titans score four

RAMS Titans produced a composed team performance to earn a four-try 24-7 success at Blackheath 2^nd XV, writes Richard Ashton. The hosts started strongly, but the Titans defence held up well before an enterprising backs move, started by a beautiful off-load from captain Ben Henderson, created space on the left for speedster Charlie Robson to race down the left from inside his own half. Steffan James was unable to add the extras, but his side moved further ahead before the interval as the forwards showed their power, a rolling maul culminating with Henderson dotting down at the back in the right-hand corner. The conversion was again unsuccessful, but Titans went into the break with a 10-0 advantage as debutant prop Tarek Haffar caught the eye along with fellow first-time starter Lailand Gordon on the right-wing. Titans began the second period well, but it was the home side who reduced the deficit midway through the third quarter when a Jake Hennessy grubber kick was not gathered, allowing Blackheath to recycle the ball out to James Newey in the centres and he crossed the whitewash. Hennessy slotted the conversion to reduce the deficit to three points, but that was as near as the home side got as Titans pulled away towards the end. Firstly, a lovely flick out of the back of the hand from full-back Josh Hart set-up youngster Spencer Hayhow to dot down on the right-hand side, Rowan Grundy adding the extras to make it 17-7. And Rams added a further gloss to the score-line in the closing minutes, Swedish international debutant Axel Kanning-Smith making a strong charge before his pass found Hart to race down the right. The South African then timed his pass perfectly to find Gordon, and the wing capped an encouraging first performance by showing his speed to out-run a would-be defender to score in the corner. James landed his toughest kick to push the lead to 17 points, before the full-time whistle was blown shortly afterwards.