Maidstone (red/white) saw off Ashford in a tight game on Saturday

A dramatic finish saw Blackheath score two tries in the final five minutes to come from behind and beat Sedgley Park at Park Lane.

The game see-sawed throughout but Heath looked to be heading for a defeat as they trailed 30-25 heading into the closing stages. Instead they staged a terrific comeback, levelling the scores with a try from Dave Allen, before James Stephenson touched down for the winner to keep Blackheath in National 1’s top six.

Westcombe Park’s chances of avoiding the drop from National 2 South were boosted by a 17-5 win at Lydney. Only their fifth win of the season, Park remain bottom of the table but the gap to Barnes in second bottom was trimmed to six points.

Canterbury edged closer to the National 3 London & SE title with a 33-19 win against Westcliff - their 18th victory from 18 games this season. Their nearest challengers are Ampthill, whose 35-26 win over Gravesend kept them one point ahead of Tonbridge Juddians, 50-17 winners at home to Staines.

All four Kent clubs in London 1 South lost on Saturday. The most damaging was Thanet Wanderers, who stayed second bottom following a 43-15 defeat at Hove. Title-chasing Basingstoke had too much for Dover, winning 21-14, while Beckenham went down 48-23 at Old Elthamians. Sidcup at least had the comfort of a bonus point in their 24-19 loss at Haywards Heath.

Tunbridge Wells claimed a welcome 27-3 win at Old Mid-Whitgiftian to boost their London 2 South East survival hopes, keeping them just ahead of Deal & Betteshanger, who won 33-30 at home to Warlingham. Sevenoaks pushed leaders East Grinstead all the way, losing 21-26, while Aylesford Bulls were also narrowly defeated at home, 24-19 by Old Dunstonians.

Medway and Folkestone both ran up big scores to stay in London 3 South East’s top three. Medway thrashed Park House 76-0 and Folkestone demolished Crawley 66-5. It was far closer at The Mote, where Maidsatone beat Ashford 27-20, while Bromley won 14-7 at Uckfield. Sheppey stayed in the bottom four with a 22-3 defeat at home to Horsham.

It may have been a decisive weekend in the Kent 1 title race. Vigo’s 39-17 defeat at Hastings & Bexhill meant Gillingham Anchorians’ 29-15 win at HSBC took them nine points clear at the top.

NATIONAL LEAGUE 1

Sedgley Park 30 Blackheath 37

NATIONAL LEAGUE 2 SOUTH

Lydney 5 Westcombe Park 17

NATIONAL LEAGUE 3 LONDON & SE

Ampthill 35 Gravesend 26

Canterbury 33 Westcliff 19

Tonbridge Juddians 50 Staines 17

LONDON 1 SOUTH

Basingstoke 21 Dover 14

Haywards Heath 24 Sidcup 19

Hove 43 Thanet Wanderers 15

Old Elthamians 48 Beckenham 23

LONDON 2 SOUTH EAST

Aylesford Bulls 19 Old Dunstonians 24

Deal & Betteshanger 33 Warlingham 30

Old Mid-Whitgiftian 3 Tunbridge Wells 27

Sevenoaks 21 East Grinstead 26

LONDON 3 SOUTH EAST

Crawley 5 Folkestone 66

Maidstone 27 Ashford 20

Park House 0 Medway 76

Sheppey 3 Horsham 22

Uckfield 7 Bromley 14

KENT 1

Beccehamian 10 Old Gravesendians 27

Dartfordians 47 Whitstable 7

Guys’ Kings’ & St Thomas’ Hospital 20 Sittingbourne 21

Hastings & Bexhill 39 Vigo 17

HSBC 15 Gillingham Anchorians 29

New Ash Green 0 Cranbrook 17

Photo by BOB HAYTON