Tabard's flanker Dallas Adams played his heart out on Saturday, and scored Tabard's two tries as they won for the second week running.

This time Tabard beat Blackheath, one of the great names in rugby, and although Adams starred, the game was no soap opera.

From the first whistle, the two sides went at it hammer and tongs, and the crowd was treated to a delightful game of rugby.

Although Tabard started on top, the pattern of the game was soon apparent. Tabard dominated up front and Blackheath had the handling three quarters.

Tabard's dominance of the set scrums, especially in the front row with Richard Bromham at loose head, Mark Sharp at hooker and Barry Lockwood at tight, was so extreme that every Blackheath scrum was greeted by the crowd shouting "their ball, our ball Tabard".

As so many times this season, Tabard found themselves a try down in five minutes. A penalty gave Blackheath possession and they mounted a superb, concerted attack that finally penetrated Tabard's defence and culminated with the winger, Abban, going over in the corner, with stand off Griffin adding the conversion. Just before half-time a penalty, also from Griffin, put Blackheath 10 points clear at the break.

In the second half there was almost a sense of certainty that Tabard would score, and the first try came within ten minutes. From a scrum close to the line, the number 8, Ron Matthews, picked up and powered forward, Tabard recycled quickly and Adams took the ball and bored through the cover defence.

Just at the end of the third quarter Adams was over again. The score came much as before: Matthews picked up, this time flanker Jon Ions continued the move and Adams in support did the scoring. 10 points all.

A long range penalty from scrum half Michael Skinner then gave Tabard the lead for the first time in the match, but five minutes later Griffin had levelled the scores in like manner.

It was only a matter of time, though, before Tabard scored again and a further penalty from Skinner gave them the lead and ultimately the game. However, like all good soap operas, there was drama at the end. Blackheath mounted a final assault on the Tabard line, but were stopped just short by Adams, who forced the wing into touch. As the referee blew for the touch, he also blew for full-time.

As this was happening, Blackheath took a quick throw in and scored a touch down. The referee did not allow the score to stand because the game was over, but it was a close thing!

TABARD: Dudley (Webb, 78 minutes), Telling (Mitchell, 75 minutes), Williams, Coetzee, James, Woodard, Skinner, Bromham, Sharp, Lockwood (Sullivan, 75 minutes), Finnie, Sussum, Johal (Ions, 45 minutes), Adams and Matthews.

Tabard 16

Blackheath 13

National League Three South

*On Saturday Tabard travel to Clifton.

December 12, 2001 12:25