Blackheath 17 Rams 29
A MAGNIFICENT first-half display helped Rams seal a maiden victory against Blackheath with a bonus-point 29-17 success at Well Hall.
The visitors came out the blocks strongly and took an early lead when captain Robbie Stapley continued his try-scoring hot streak with a fifth in four games, peeling off the back of a rolling maul to touch down on the right.
Sam Nicholls stroked over a superb conversion, and things got even better for the away side shortly afterwards when the maul again gave strong field position before a series of pick-and-goes ended with Tom Vooght burrowing over from close range.
While Nicholls’ attempted conversion this time drifted wide to the right, the Rams defence was forcing error after error with their speed and aggression as they denied Club any space.
The third score arrived again from the line-out, but this time with a clever piece of interplay which saw Paul Schroter flick a ball back to Connor Stapley from the rear of the set-piece, and following a couple of off-loads, Vooght again dived over for his 13th of the campaign.
With Nicholls slotting the extras, the visitors went into the break 19-0 to the good, only for Blackheath to come roaring back into the contest at the start of the second half.
Almost immediately they got themselves onto the scoreboard as a slick handling move was finished by Jake Lloyd, former Ram Andrew Denham with the assist as his off-load on the left touchline set-up his fellow wing for the try.
A second followed shortly afterwards as Jake Hennessey – off target with the conversion effort – landed a brilliant 50-22 to give his side field position before prop Matt Collins blasted over from close range.
The fly-half was again unable to slot the kick, but his side were right back in the game.
However, the away side showed they have learned lessons from weeks gone by as they began to reassert control, gaining a bonus point as they headed into the final 10 minutes when Connor Hayhow’s clever grubber kick was hoovered up by Michael Dykes to cross on the left, substitute Drew Humberstone landing a brilliant touchline conversion to all but put the game to bed.
Yet Club gave themselves a glimmer of hope when full-back Marcus Kershaw grabbed an interception inside his own 22, going the length of the field before Hennessey drop-kicked the conversion.
Rams, though, were not to be denied, and after winning a couple of scrum penalties five metres from the line, eventually settled for Humberstone to kick a three-pointer with what proved to be the last action of the game.
