Blackheath Cooke up a major storm
Rams …………….18
Blackheath ….31
RAMS' National One title hopes suffered a major blow as an impressive Blackheath side landed a 31-18 bonus-point victory at Old Bath Road.
The away side started with a bang as second row James Catt crossed for a third-minute try, Mark Cooke adding the extras.
Rams hit back almost immediately, the excellent Kieran Leicester cutting a fine line before shrugging off two would-be tacklers to cross the whitewash.
Cooke and Tom Humberstone exchanged penalties before Blackheath landed a crucial blow shortly before halftime, a slick backs move ending with Jake Lloyd dotting down in the right corner. Cooke landed a superb touchline conversion to give his side a 17-8 lead at the break.
Rams rallied, however, and a brace of tries from Jak Rossiter put them in front, the first a magnificent solo effort in which he beat numerous defenders before diving over. Humberstone failed to land either conversion, however, leaving Rams 18- 17 up after 57 minutes.
Blackheath responded quickly, and scored a third try of their own when Lloyd's fellow wing Nick Foster was on the end of another flowing move, Cooke knocking over another conversion.
The bonus point and victory was sealed on 63 minutes, their backs again creating space with Lloyd grabbing his second. Fittingly, Cooke landed the extras.
TEAMS
RAMS: Leicester, Rossiter, Bryant, Humberstone A, Corrigan, Humberstone T, Moates; Kidd, Henderson, Zeiss, Taylor, Guttridge, Crame, Vooght, Stapley
Replacements: Denham, Steadman, Baker, Collis
BLACKHEATH: Fielding, Lloyd, Staff, Burcham, Foster, Cooke, Liebenberg; Williams, Morris, Herriott, Catt, Patrick, Stradwick, Owen, Burns
Replacements: Ransom, Perks, Seward, Ure, Baldwin
REFEREE: Nick Wood
ATTENDANCE: 424
Star man
Mark Cooke – Blackheath
