McKenzie at the double as Park see off Club
A LARGE crowd at the Northern Echo Arena was thoroughly entertained in this hard-fought encounter, with visitors Blackheath stretching the league’s second-placed team until the final ten minutes.
Up until then, Blackheath had matched the home side scoring three tries, but in the end, the hosts stepped up the pace and ran out comfortable winners in the end.
The home side took a little while to fully settle but opened the scoring with a Garry Law penalty after three minutes.
Winger Adam Radwan underlined his credentials with a fine individual effort for the next score and when Law added the conversion, Mowden were worth their lead. A missed tackle in midfield allowed Blackheath back into the game with winger Jake Lloyd diving in.
Law added another penalty to edge Mowden in front as the game entered the second quarter and then flanker Tom Stradwick struck for Blackheath, scoring a well worked try under the posts, leaving Joe Tarrant with the easiest of conversions to get the visitors back into the game at the break.
With all to play for for each side, the first score of the second half was crucial and it fell for home winger Callum Mackenzie, who powered over in the corner after pressure from the pack. The conversion was missed by Law.
Blackheath went a point ahead when Lloyd crossed
for his second try, Tarrant converting. Interference at the breakdown brought a penalty for the home side and Law was up to the task, edging Mowden in front.
Within a minute of the restart, Blackheath found themselves penalised as they kicked back from the Mowden restart, only to find several players ahead of the kicker. The ball was kicked to the corner and Warren Seals cut a line back inside the Blackheath defence for the score, Law converting.
Mowden threatened to run away with it late on as Mackenzie scored his second try of the game, adding the try bonus point and putting the game out of Blackheath’s reach.
The visitors kept battling for a losing bonus point but it wasn’t to be.