match report
A First for Southend
Following Southends narrow defeat to Launceston last week they travelled away to Blackheath for their second league game of the season. Despite having never won against Blackheath, Ben Green, director of rugby expressed his confidence as he had seen enough from last week to expect a favourable result.
His confidence looked misplaced to start with as Blackheath dominated both territory and possession. They could have put some distance between the teams had they converted more than one of the deluge of penalties they were awarded.
However they didn’t and paid the price, an initial penalty success for three points was quickly cancelled as Southend got one of their own, but then quickly conceded a lineout leading to a push over try from the Blackheath forwards that was followed by an easy conversion.
Then Southend took control and played some outstanding rugby. First of all Mark Billings took a short inside pass about 30 meters out, with an electrifying burst of pace and balance he beat four defenders to go under the post for Southends first try of the game. Jake Sharp, on loan from Saracens and playing confidently at fly half, duly converted.
A few minutes later with Southend down to fourteen men with captain Andrew McClintock in the bin, Tyson Lewis burst free down his wing, an unload to outside centre Luke Sloane led to another inside pass to scrum half Rhys Powel who touched down.
Before long another try was added, this one from Tyson Lewis himself. Blackheath had been looking dangerous and were pressurising the Southend line when up popped Lewis with an interception, they were never going to catch him as he sprinted the length of the pitch before touching down under the posts. The conversion put Southend 10 – 22 up with half time looming, but Southends wing terrors were not finished yet. This time it was Billings again, supporting a breakaway he took the ball at pace and went in under the posts, Sharp converted and Southend went in to half time 29 - 10 up.
Shortly after the resumption of play Southend extended their lead still further, another excellent passage of back play was rewarded when Luke Sloan gathered the ball, passed on to Richard Gill who released Chris Green for the try. An accurate kick added the extra two points and Southend were cruising.
Although Blackheath scored a further try from yet another penalty, Southend were not to be denied a well deserved victory and added a further 3 points from a penalty of their own towards the end of the game, running out 39 – 15 winners, and gaining 5 league points taking them to 5th in the table at this early stage of the season.
The all round display of good attacking rugby was matched this time by some resolute and well organised defending, something that head coach Mark Mapletoft has been working on since his arrival during the summer.
Match Stats | 
