With both Richmond and Blackheath returning to National One this season, the oldest fixture in the world resumed, and it was a real ‘arm wrestle’ of a fixture with both sides determined to dominate physically. Richmond had more chances but frustratingly it was Blackheath who got the win, due in large part to two well taken breakaway tries. Richmond persisted at the end, and their 75th minute try gave them a bonus point and a brief opportunity to get more.

Richmond’s point leaves them in 9th position in a league still full of surprise results. Rams’ third loss in a row cedes top position to Plymouth, eleven points ahead of Richmond. Blackheath are now sixth, two points ahead of Richmond.

Richmond welcomed back Will Kaye on the wing whilst Toby Saysell was kept out by a knock as was Henry Cheeseman in a late change in the centre. Blackheath have recruited aggressively and featured in their squad Sam Hill (ex Exeter and Sale), Will Davis (ex Ealing and Northampton Saints) and young fly half Matt Dalrymple (from Ealing Academy, ex London Irish Academy).

However, it was an old head who got Club off to a winning start. Marcus Burcham, playing his 250th game, made the key break, passing on to Leo Fielding, Blackheath’s man of the match. He was tackled just short, but the ball was swiftly moved out to ex Albanian Alex Noote who touched down wide out. The conversions were crucial, Blackheath nailing all three, with the first two by Dalrymple.

Gradually, Richmond imposed themselves on the game and created chances in the home 22. The best attacking chance came from a smart Luc Jones dummy and snipe on the 22, but his try scoring pass went to ground. Twice the forwards got close to the line, but a scrum penalty and staunch Club defence denied them further progress. However, Richmond’s defence was working hard too and having the better of things in the collisions.

After 24 minutes, a Sean Kerr kick ahead was fielded by Jake Hennessey, but the full back hesitated and was caught by Jake Monson in a good Richmond follow up. When the ball went loose, the excellent Kerr was first to it, and, after an interchange with Hamish Graham a well-judged toe poke ahead was alertly touched down by the centre for the try. Kerr added the conversion, calmly ignoring consistent problems with the kicking tee to nail his three kicks of the afternoon.

Having got level, Richmond now looked to be edging the contest, though they suffered a blow when Ntinga Mpiko was yellow carded, a neat inside pass catching him off balance and resulting in a high tackle. A man down, Richmond maintained the pressure and dominated territory. After a good Tom Smith line kick, Kerr ran straight and hard to make an initial incursion, supported by barraging prop Luke Spring. Club held out at the cost of a penalty, converted by Kerr to leave Richmond 7-10 ahead at half time.

Half time chatter favoured Richmond but the game enjoyed a big swing in the opening minutes of the half. Blackheath missed touch with a penalty and the kick tennis which followed ended with a high kick fielded by Alex O’Meara. The full back had to run forward into congested space and the ball hit his shoulder bouncing neatly back into the hands of Luc Jones, who had been directing operations with aplomb.

With Blackheath caught out of position, Richmond seemed to have an overlap of several players on his left and he quickly threw a long pass out wide. Unfortunately, on this occasion, the pass was overthrown and went straight into the hands of Club winger Noote. With open space in front, he raced twenty metres before being well caught at the corner. Richmond somehow held out at the breakdown but at the cost of a yellow card for Jones, probably booked trying to make amends. Club were not delayed for long, hooker Ollie Walliker the scorer as the pack drove from the five metre line out.

Richmond now had a second spell of ten minutes with fourteen men but again quickly got back on to the front foot. After 50 minutes, they parked themselves two or three metres out and battered the Blackheath line. Somehow Club held out and cleared from the scrum. Richmond almost immediately used a penalty to get back to the corner and repeat the barrage.

Just as they appeared bound to score, the ball could be seen, rolling out of the maul. With Richmond up in attack, the danger was obvious, and Fielding took full advantage, beating the off-balance defence with great skill and timing his pass perfectly to send Hennessey almost clear into the corner. Referee and assistant had a lengthy debate about the touch down, but it ended with the try given and a lead now stretched out to 21-10 by Mark Cooke’s conversion.

Still, Richmond had chances, substitute Ted Landray finding good territory whilst Club were again missing touch. But Blackheath held out determinedly on two more occasions despite extra ballast from the Richmond backs. Finally, after 75 minutes, Richmond got a scrum penalty, immediately following Vaughan Bentley’s arrival as a substitute. Landray found touch five metres out and at last the pack drove over, Vaughan Bentley getting the touch down.

There was still time for a late try to steal victory but a crooked throw at a lineout really ended their final opportunity. Blackheath earned their win the hard way, but an improving Richmond know it was one which got away.

Tries: Kerr, Bentley
Conversions: Kerr (2)
Penalty: Kerr

Team: A. O’Meara, H.Graham, S.Kerr, T. Hitchcock, W.Kaye, T.Smith, L.Jones, L.Spring, A.Post, N.Mpiko, J.Monson, M.Murphy, H.Wills, X.Hastings, E.Benson.

Subs: V.Bentley, C.Maguire, L.Schmid, M.Petrozzi, T.Landray