PLAYED under lights at the Rectory Field on a balmy spring evening this was one of the most exciting games of running rugby seen this season. If this was 'comfort zone' rugby let's have more of it! The score was a disappointment but the pace of the game and the general standard of entertainment was exceptional. Both sides put in 110 per cent effort from start to finish and the pace never slackened for the full 80 minutes, writes Tony Randel.

Blackheath came out of the blocks like men inspired determined to play wide running rugby. Cornish All Blacks did exactly the same and the ball flew across the pitch from hand to hand as play moved just as fast up and down the pitch. It was really frantic stuff and exhilarating to watch.

Blackheath got the first points on the board after ten minutes from one of their long passing moves when winger Sam Smith got around the defence. Launceston suffered a severe blow when Mike Myerscough had to go off with a recurrence of his shoulder injury and were struggling in the line-out from then on. Steve Pape was a very able replacement but after six months off sick he was obviously not really match fit.

The game continued at the same pace with both Hamish Smales and Marc Dibble having half chances but the super-quick Club winger Mark Odejobi hauled them down just short of the line on each occasion.

Blackheath struck again in 19th and 22nd minutes. Odejobi made the first of these tries before passing to full back Tom White to score and the second came from centre Sean Moan. Tom White converted both. Launceston appeared to have no answer to the Club game of spreading the ball wide to allow the backs to run onto the ball at speed. This tactic paid off again in 26th minute for centre Richard Windsor to score.

Four tries within the half hour made it look like one way traffic. Yes, Launceston were outplayed by some seriously good back play but they hit back on the half hour playing Blackheath at their own game. A long pass from Adam Staniforth found Marc Dibble on the wing who drew in the Club defence before sending a long pass inside for Gary Kingdom to score. However three minutes later Glen Remnant tried the same long passing only for it to be intercepted by flier Odejobi; there was no stopping him before he crossed the line.

Five tries – one to each of the back five shows the sort of game it was! But this incredible period of rugby was not over yet. Josh Lord made a break from a ruck inside the Blackheath 22 before making a long pass to Marc Dibble who shot over the line. Staniforth's conversion brought the score to 33 -12 at half time.

The second period promised more of the same fast running rugby with Jon Fabian going fast down the left wing right from the kick off but he had no support when caught 5m short. Ten minutes later it was Ryan Westren's turn to score after a solo run from halfway. Five minutes later Westren was held up over the line. Despite three Launceston scrums in the Blackheath 22 they just could not get the ball over the line and an intercepted pass gave the hosts the chance to get out of trouble.

The pace never slackened but neither side could force any more scores although Cornish All Blacks came close with a classic diagonal run Jake Murphy and a cross kick from Staniforth for Hamish Smales which was just inches too far ahead of him!

Blackheath deserved the win but Launceston played far more than a supporting role in a classic piece of sheer entertainment.

Scorers:

Blackheath: tries, Smith, Moan, Windsor, White, Odejobi; cons, White (4).

Cornish All Blacks: tries, Kingdom, Dibble, Westren; cons, Staniforth (2).

Blackheath: Tom White, Mark Odejobi, Richard Windsor, Sean Moan, Sam Smith, Ben Ibrahim, Matt Leek (capt) (Steve Hamilton 68), Simon Legg, Jack Knight (Liam Wordley 68), Des Brett, Gavin Wallis, Ali Vanner, Neil Dewale, James Catt, and Chris York (Alex Brown 61); reps not used Ken Aseme and Matt Vaughan

Cornish All Blacks: Jon Fabian, Marc Dibble, Gary Kingdom, Ryan Westren, Hamish Smales, Adam Staniforth, Ben Turner (Jake Murphy 68), Jason Bolt, Glenn Cooper (Darren Semmens 66), Keith Brooking (Billy Moss 43), Tom Skelding, Mike Myerscough (Steve Pape 11-43, Sam Hocking), Josh Lord, Tony Roques (capt) and Glen Remnant.