Students steal it as Club conspire to lose

A THRILLING climax saw Loughborough concede two late penalties to give Blackheath field position and opportunity aplenty to take victory – but they could not seal the deal.

Two 45-metre penalties from Owen Waters gave the Students a 6-0 head start but as Club’s set-piece grew in dominance the hosts gradually gained the ascendancy.

Joe Tarrant kicked a twelfth-minute penalty, the fly-half adding the conversion after Mike Perks was driven over.

And as Blackheath went through the phases after a further throw, Jake Lloyd crossed out wide for a 15-6 advantage at the interval.

However, a frenetic opening to the second period saw Blackheath possession turned over three times, culminating in a Loughborough break down the left flank and a try for Waters.

The fly-half added a penalty to bring the visitors within one point, before Tarrant gave the hosts some breathing space on the hour with his second strike as Students suffered a yellow card.

But despite their depleted number, the Students were able to pounce on a charged-down kick for fullback Will Kaye to score and take the lead.

A Leo Fielding strike nudged Blackheath ahead once more, but the Club’s set-piece had collapsed and a scrum infringement saw Waters kick his fourth penalty to edge the visitors home.