Nuneaton 22 Blackheath 10

The relative comfort of being underdogs turned into the pressure of expectation on Saturday and Blackheath failed the test. After a run of positive performances against the top sides in National League One, the Club travelled to lowly Nuneaton as firm favourites. But in a disappointing display, on a sticky undulating surface, the visitors never got out of first gear and in their desperation in the final minutes managed to cough up the three tries that gave Nuns a relatively comfortable win.

Short of experienced heads in the form of Tom Bason (who captained England Counties to their 29-25 victory over the Irish Clubs XV on Friday night) and Dave Allen, out with a virus, Blackheath were a shadow of the side who had run mighty Esher so close a week earlier. A malfunctioning line-out and the concession of countless turnovers never allowed them to build any sustained pressure, despite holding the lion’s share of possession.

Until the closing stages it was the solitary penalty from Nuns’ scrum-half Huw Thomas that separated the sides, but with eleven minutes remaining a loose ball was hacked on by fly-half Rickie Aley for left-wing James MacDonald to score the first try and extend the hosts’ lead. Paul Humphries quickly responded with a penalty for Blackheath but a charged-down kick led to another try for Nuns’ centre Will Cave and a 15-3 advantage.

At last Blackheath began to show the urgency they’d been missing all game and as the Club pack picked and drove their way into the heart of the opposition, outside centre, stand-in captain Richard Windsor, stormed over to the left of the uprights.

With Blackheath only five points adrift the game was treated to a finale it hardly deserved, but as the visitors looked to penetrate the hosts’ defence in a long final play, the ball fell loose once more for Nuns’ man of the match Aley to pick up and score.

“We massively underperformed” said Club 1st XV Manager Colin Ridgway. “I’m looking for a huge backlash next weekend”. Should it come it will be at the expense of Blaydon who visit Rectory Field in a 2.30pm KO on Saturday.

Nuneaton Tries: MacDonald, Cave, Aley. Conv: Thomas 2. Pens: Thomas. Blackheath Tries: Windsor. Conv: Humphries. Pens: Humphries