Blackheath 32 Stourbridge 21

Stourbridge paid the price for gifting Blackheath a 15 point lead despite a spirited second half fightback.

A tortuous coach journey to South London meant the kick off was delayed by 15 minutes and Stour side minus an injured Ally Bressington were always going to be up against it.

Despite the less than favourable pre match build up thee visitors started brightly and had the better of the opening exchanges.

It was however the hosts who tool the lead after a misunderstanding between Buck and Porteous gifted the ball to Blackheath flanker Dave Allen who had an easy run in to the left of the posts.

The next 20 minutes again saw Stour in the ascendancy but the host's defence was good and to add salt to the wound the visitors missed two straightforward penalty attempts.

Five minutes before half time Stourbridge's defence went AWOL as Blackheath spread the ball to the right across their three-quarters for centre Sean Moan to run in and score under the bar. Frankie Neale converted and then added a penalty just before the break to leave the half time score at 15-0.

The second half opened with Neale kicking a second penalty when Stour were penalised for blatantly coming in at the side. The visitors got on the scoresheet after 52 minutes when an impressive break left to right eventually saw Freeman beat his opposite number and score in the corner. Buck seemed to have found his kicking boots and converted superbly from the touchline.

Five minutes later the home side left Stour's hopes of a remarkable comeback in tatters after they scored a crucial try.

A succession of rolling mauls from a five metre line-out catch and drives were pulled down and referee Nigel Higginson eventually awarded a penalty try - converted by Neale and Blackheath were out of site at 25-7.

The last twenty minutes again saw Stourbridge in the ascendancy and Freeman again showed his predatory instincts by scoring a second try as he juggled the ball and touched down in the right corner. Buck's conversion was again superbly struck from the touchline.

Ten minutes before time Blackheath scored their fourth try when their impressive scrum half, England under 19 international Joe Simpson (on loan Wasps), found a gap to dart in under the posts.

Stourbridge lost hooker Ben Gerry for the last ten minutes of the game when he was yellow carded after an altercation in front of the main stand.

Despite being down to 14 men Stourbridge finished strongly and, five minutes before time, scored a third converted try when prop James Tideswell charged over to the left of the posts.

Stour went in search of a fourth try which would actually have secured two bonus points but it was not to be and Blackheath successfully closed out the game.

Line-up: Williams (Cook), Freeman, Porteous, Eastwood, Hall, Buck, Richardson, Hartland (Sturdy), Gerry, Tideswell, Muldowney, Homer, Dean (Keylock), Jordan (Witcomb), Jenner.