Despite the league positions before this match, the actual game was always going to be a close affair, with Blackheath RFC trying to make up the gap Richmond RFC have created and DMPRFC looking to get back into winning ways and add to a second half of the season effort to surpass last season's 9th place finish.

The match, although failing to deliver a glut of tries, which was never going to be the case, showed the level of maturity DMPRFC have acquired in only their second season in National League One, the third tier of English rugby.

An early try from Blackheath No. 6 Thomas Ellis (0 - 5), did nothing to dampen the home sides spirit, as these days, DMPRFC are quite capable of turning any game, despite tries scored in the first few minutes of the game.

A catch and drive lineout teed up the try, as when the rolling maul was stopped, a series of pick and drives from the burly Blackheath pack battered the accustoming defence, forcing the touchdown.

A normally precise and accurate Blackheath RFC fly half Freddie Gabbittas failed to register the afters and after only 9 minutes of the game, the visiting team , along with everyone else, would have had no idea that the miss would be the difference between the sides at full time.

DMPRFC needed to respond as soon as possible, however a well organised defence from the visitors held firm, until the scores were levelled by the industry of home scrum half Matt WALSH.

After heaps of pressure by the home side in and around the red zone, an increasingly desperate defence from the visitors resulted in their No.8 being sin-binned.

DMPRFC made the difference in numbers count and when No.8 Ollie HODGSON broke from the base of the resulting scrum, WALSH received the ball, dummying a pass to his attending winger, finding the gap in the defence for the score (5 - 5).

The extras were added by the sure footed Warren SEALS (7 - 5).

Blackheath seemed to react badly to the score and within less than five minutes, the home sides total was doubled, this time winger Jamie BARNARD cutting through for the score (12 - 5).

Play was taken swiftly from right to left in the visitors 22-metres and BARNARD's pace and physicality took him over.

Again the afters were successful from SEALS, who went on to have an influential game.

DMPRFC were to suffer as Blackheath had done before, when reduced to 14 men due to a sin-binning.

Home centre Chris AULD was yellow carded for a technical offence in defence with 2 minutes of the break for oranges and immediately Blackheath followed suit with their hosts in pressing home that advantage, when poor defence allowed visiting replacement back Tom Chapman to score (14 - 10), when the ball was moved wide from a set scrum.

This time Gabbittas was successful with a difficult touchline conversion (14 - 12), to bring Blackheath RFC to within two points of DMPRFC.

At oranges, a more open game was envisaged after the break, but a mixture of poor finishing, good defence and more than a hint of tension entered the game, as probably both sides were reluctant to try anything adventurous, as the next score would be the game winner.

Thus, the game, although still enthralling until the end for the decent crowd to watch, petered out, despite some chances coming to both sides to pull away.

A big THANK YOU to Match Ball Sponsor Star Radio, who presented the Man of the Match ball to DMPRFC winger Jamie BARNARD

Next Saturday Graeme Dawe brings his Plymouth Albion RFC visit the Arena.

Another tough encounter, but then again, every week, that is the case.