The away side opened the scoring with an early Freddie Gabbitass penalty earned at the scrum – something they repeatedly used to their advantage throughout the contest – only for Rams to reply with the opening try as a delicious line from Tom Vooght saw him break through Club’s defence before off-loading to Jamie Guttridge to dot down on the right.

Drew Humberstone slotted the conversion from the 15-metre line to put the hosts 7-3 to the good, and he furthered their advantage when more good work from Guttridge forced Blackheath to concede a penalty for not releasing.

Humberstone made no mistake with the kick to push Rams seven points in front, but their lead was nullified when the visitors retrieved a kick in their own half and returned it in hand down the right before an inside ball to scrum-half Ollie Claxton set him away for a try.

Gabbitass added the extras, but it was Rams who had the final say in the first half as Humberstone’s second penalty gave them a 13-10 advantage.

The visitors missed an opportunity to level as a Gabbitass penalty drifted wide, but they deservedly went in front after dominating territory as the ball was spun wide for prolific wing Jake Lloyd to touch down.

A superb touchline conversion from Gabbitass made it 17-13, and while Rams had by far the better of the later stages, they frittered away a number of opportunities to regain the lead.

The hosts nearly snatched the victory at the death as the excellent Connor Hayhow threaded a beautiful grubber kick through, but with the line at his mercy, Stevie Bryant was beaten by the bounce of the ball as Club held onto maintain their unbeaten record against Rams.

Rams (15-9, 1-8): Leicester, Rossiter, Bryant, Hayhow, Bird, Humberstone, Cole (Englefield 59); Steadman (McDonnell-Roberts 56), Hayman (Moffitt 56), Baker, Taylor, Thomson, Guttridge (Schroter 62), Vooght, Stapley ©.

Substitutes: Moffitt, McDonnell-Roberts, Schroter, Englefield, James.

Blackheath (15-9, 1-8): Kershaw (Hennessey 22), Lloyd, Kennaugh, Spencer, Foster, Gabbitass, Claxton (Hiscocks 78); Williams, Morris, Collins, McGeekie, Taylor ©, Stradwick, Owen, Holland (Ure 74).
Substitutes: Walliker, Boye, Ure, Hiscocks, Hennessey.

Rams

Tries: Guttridge 16

Conversion: Humberstone 17

Penalties: Humberstone 22, 38

Blackheath

Tries: Claxton 28, Lloyd 58

Conversions: Gabbitass 29, 59

Penalties: Gabbitass 7

Star Man: Tom Williams (Blackheath)

Referee: Hamish Grant

Attendance: 613

Halftime scoreline: 13-10