Blackheath started the game without scrum half Stef Liebenburg and full back Nick Foster, and the back line depleted even further when Mark Cooke was sent to the sin bin for what was deemed a deliberate knock-on.
Loughborough made good use of the numbers advantage and put the first points on the board, when a driving maul went over in the corner with just eight minutes gone.
Blackheath struck straight back when Flanker Harry Bate made a brilliant break after a series of phases to score under the posts and give Blackheath a 7-5 lead.
Neither side were able to grab a firm hold of the game early on as Loughborough came straight back on the attack and capitalised when a huge gap opened and allowed scrum-half Jack Moates to put Loughborough ahead.
Sustained Pressure
With Cooke back on the pitch, Blackheath began to see more of the ball and after some sustained pressure in Loughborough’s 22, a driving maul allowed flanker Freddie Owen to get on the scoresheet, the fourth try in just 28 minutes of action.
Blackheath battled hard to make sure they did not go behind again and another superb line break this time by centre Henry Staff, put Blackheath 19-12 in front following the conversion from Joe Tarrant.
The two teams traded penalties as the game was heading towards a half-time 22-15 score before lock Tom Stradwick was yellow-carded. Blackheath’s second sin bin of the game, giving Loughborough a big advantage when the teams came out for the second half.
Domination
The wind began to pick up in the second half but this did not affect Loughborough as they came out firing, dominating possession before a smart ball over the top by Mark Dixon allowed Will Brown to show his blistering pace to score in the corner.
The pressure continued from Loughborough as another quick counter attack saw Newborn cross the whitewash for the second time to give Loughborough a bonus point and bring the score to level 25-25 with 25 minutes to play.
Ten minutes of attacking, end-to-end rugby ensued as the game swung in the balance, but it was Blackheath who took the initiative when replacement hooker Harry Fry, who was playing in the back row, scored after another driving maul to secure a bonus point for Blackheath.
With Loughborough legs tiring, Blackheath executed a brilliant breakaway from their own 22 which saw Joe Tarrant eventually score in the corner. Tarrant, who played superbly in the absence of Nick Foster, slotted the crucial conversion to take the score to 39-25 with just 10 minutes to play.
The game was all but over when Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas scored late to give Loughborough a losing point, taking the final score to 39-32, a fantastic match, with Loughborough unfortunate to leave with only two points.
Bonus finish
The result sees Blackheath finally put some space between Old Elthamians and themselves at the top of the table after Elthamians were unable to secure any bonus points in their win over Cambridge. Loughborough continue to prop up the rear of the table, sitting three points behind 15th placed Esher.
Blackheath will be back in action next week when they travel to Bishop Stortford who currently sit 13th.
