Club hit form at right time for new season

FIVE tries, four in the second half, saw Blackheath make it a hat-trick of pre-season victories in an unfriendly and physical encounter.

The home side laid down the marker at their new Well Hall home leaving director of rugby Colin Ridgeway in a fine mood.

He said:“Our pattern play was good, we have worked hard in getting our link up play right and it showed in how we performed.”

After Blackheath’s initial attack from the kick-off, the first half an hour was all Richmond, using a tail wind to kick to the corner and dominating from the line-up with tall Matt Corker proving his worth.

However, it was open play which led to their first try as wing Henry Cheeseman broke through on the right before a quick re-cycle of the ball opened up space for ever-present flanker Tom Sergeant to score in the corner. Ex-Heathen Freddie Gabbitass converted.

Ten minutes later Richmond used their physical advantage at the scrum to whip the ball out to fly-half Rory Lynn. He played a neat one-two with centre Ronnie McLean before going over. Full-back Gabbitass converted.

Richmond wing Charlie Broughton saw yellow for a professional foul in the 37th minute before Blackheath’s Tom Stradwick made some crucial yards and, via Gegor Gillanders, sent in wing Tom Chapman for a game-changing try.

Richmond went down to 13 after the break with Corker in the bin for not being back the full 10 metres at the restart.

Blackheath’s Jack Walsh grabbed their second try before The Club took the lead as replacement Jake Lloyd and captain Markus Burcham broke through, helping new signing No15 James Davies to dot down.

On the 57th minute centre Mark Cooke opened up the Richmond line to give Walsh his second try and Cooke landed his third conversion.

The home side sealed the win with a catch-drive try by hooker Harry Fry.

Richmond coach Steve Hill said: “It’s disappointing as we seem to have taken a step back and we need to turn it around before Jersey next weekend.”