Fylde 44 v Blackheath 28.

It seems like forever that we’ve been waiting to watch some sport in warm spring sunshine. 

At last, the opportunity arose, and on the Lancashire coast two teams produced a fitting match to grace a lovely afternoon, with ten tries and a finale closer than the final scoreline might suggest.  Indeed for a while mid-second period it looked as if an out-of-sorts Blackheath might just spring a surprise against a Fylde side who had won six of their last seven matches.

But in the end it was Fylde’s pace, handling skills, and their ability to score from almost any situation that always kept the Lancastrians out in front.

Wings Warren Spragg and Oli Brennand, heading for a brace and a hat-trick respectively, both scored in the first period, along with second-row Paul Arnold, as Blackheath often put themselves under pressure in their twenty-two, but Rory Teague’s tactical kicking, along with two penalties from the Club fly-half and a try from open-side Lee Covington, kept Blackheath hanging on at 22-11 at the break.

Chris Johnson’s second penalty for the hosts was quickly followed by the best try of the match, as Brennand and centre Michael Waywell combined in an effort down the left flank which almost went the length of the pitch, but just as Fylde looked to be stretching away the visitors hauled them back.

Covington was driven across for a second score, and as Blackheath started to string some decent handling moves together themselves, ball was moved across field for outside-centre Richard Lankshear to cross and reduce the arrears to just seven points.

However, a long pass out wide saw Brennand over for his hat-trick on the hour, and although a wonderful break by Tom O’Flaherty produced a fourth Blackheath try (and the Club’s first league point for over a month) to keep the visitors in contention, a 79th minute breakaway from Spragg finally saw off resistance.   

Next Saturday Blackheath complete their league season as they return to Rectory Field to welcome Loughborough Students, kick-off at 3.00 pm.

Then on Sunday a Club XV head for Ashford RFC where they face Old Elthamian in the final of the Kent Cup.  Kick-off at Canterbury Road is 3.30 pm.

Fylde.

Tries:   Spragg 3, Brennand 3, Arnold.
Conv: Johnson 4.
Pens: Johnson 2.

Blackheath.

Tries:   Covington 2, Lankshear, O’Flaherty.
Conv: Teague.
Pens: Teague 2.