Club fogged up

At least a late try for Tom Bason salvaged a modicum of respectability, not that any of the band of travelling Club support actually saw it! By the time the Blackheath skipper crossed the goal-line in the 75th minute, the fog on the Tees (see what I did there?) had developed to such a thickness that it was impossible to see clearly any play in the midfield, let alone the far touchline which had completely disappeared from view. It did, however, provide a fitting backdrop to the horror show that, from a Blackheath perspective, unfolded somewhere out in the murk.

On the other hand, there was no impairment to Darlington Mowden Park’s vision. They may only have had a (generous!) estimation of a 1000 or so rattling around the 25,000-seater, aptly named, Northern Echo Arena, but that’s considerably more than double either of their two north-eastern rivals in National League One regularly achieve, and would be a facility capable of hosting them at the top level (although, as London Welsh have demonstrated, ground criteria is by no means the only barrier Premiership Rugby put in the way of anyone trying to join their elite fraternity).

Meanwhile, on the field of play, DMP saw clearly enough to combine an efficient performance from their big pack with some fine play out wide, and orchestrated by the superb Zylon McGaffin at scrum-half, in an outstanding display that belies their lowly position in the league table (albeit with a five point deduction).

The hosts were away as early as the third minute. As the visitors allowed the kick-off to bobble into touch, and saw early kicks either charged-down or out of play on the full, field position was ceded to the hosts and, after a collapsed maul, McGaffin was over from the quick-tap.

Just for a while it looked as though Blackheath might be competitive as Harry Sheppard, making his first start at fly-half, kicked a twelfth minute penalty, Mike Canty made useful ground from deep, and Richard Windsor was held short after losing his footing going for the corner.

But in the third quarter, DMP full-back Henry Robinson hit a lovely inside pass at pace to breach the defences, number-eight Guy Van den Dries touched down at the base of a scrum after Blackheath had scrambled away loose ball on their goal-line, and, as his pack crossed the gain-line at every breakdown, skipper and outside-centre Cameron Mitchell crossed for a fourth try. Fly-half Tom Hodgson added a third conversion and at 26-3 at the break, DMP were already untouchable.

The scoring was limited to a Hodgson penalty in the early stages of the second period, but with even a returning Des Brett unable to stop the Club scrum from crumbling, play was limited to the visitors’ half of the field.

The hour-mark saw the start of another three try burst with first McGaffin diving over after DMP turned possession at a five-metre set-piece, the tackling fell away for replacement back Chris McTurk to cross, and in possibly the best try of the match, right-wing Jamie Barnard raced home from half-way, Hodgson’s sixth conversion bringing up the half-century.

At last Markus Burcham’s intercept got Blackheath into opposition territory, and set up the opportunity for Bason’s late effort, but it did little to lift the gloom of the Club’s worst result of the season to date.

Next Saturday, Blackheath return to Rectory Field for the visit of Tynedale. Kick-off is 3.00 pm.

Darlington Mowden Park.

Tries: McGaffin 2, Robinson, Van den Dries, Mitchell, McTurk, Barnard.

Conv: Hodgson 6.

Pens: Hodgson.

Blackheath.

Tries: Bason.

Conv: Sheppard.

Pens: Sheppard.