BLACKHEATH secured the win they needed to clinch a first I’Anson title – and rather more easily than expected.

On the last day of the season, Blackheath beat Puttenham by six wickets and beat off the challenge of Grayswood, most of whose players were waiting for news from far away (at the wedding of skipper Andy Gloak in Cornwall).

Only a win would do for Peter Melhuish’s side and they faced opponents who had not lost since July 4.

The pitch was a vital factor. The Heath square had been flooded in midweek and although rolled out flat, it gave low bounce and the ball tended to ‘stop’.

Thus, after Aks Ilyas had elected to bat, Sohail Awan, opening for Puttenham, mis-timed his fourth ball and chipped a catch back to Torsten Wrigley.

With their most dangerous weapon gone, Puttenham never got going against Wrigley (3-26 in 11 overs) and, in particular, Dallas McDermott (4-21 in 14 overs). On the soft track, a score of 110 would have been a decent total. As it was, Puttenham struggled rather limply to 84 all out in 32 overs, the only real defiance coming from Ahsan Awan (28) and the tailenders.

Blackheath openers Josh Milton and Rob Parrott had to get their heads down as Ilyas, a master on this sort of wicket, reeled off eight consecutive maidens.

James Crouch, too, gave little away and the first-wicket stand of 58 was crucial. The pressure eased when Aziz, replacing Crouch after four overs, bowled a 14-ball over for 15 runs. Some of his deliveries would have made Steve Harmison look good.

The openers eventually both fell lbw, but the job was done and although Dan Harrison bowled Peter Melhuish in his only over, Harry Giles promptly hit the winning boundary in the 28th over.

Blackheath are champions by just 0.10 of a point on the average. Grayswood won 16 games to Blackheath’s 15, but the champions lost one match fewer and they scored better on bonus points.

It is a deserved success for Blackheath who, rather like Brook are presently doing, had to climb the I’Anson ranks after dropping out of a higher league.

The 135-year-old club, which has an idyllic ground in the Surrey Hills near Guildford, previously had a proud competitive record, first in the Arun Valley League and rising through the Three Counties League and then the Fuller’s Surrey League finally to the Surrey Championship in 2000, during which time they also reached the quarter-finals of the National Village Cup.

But travel became an issue with the players, as did the weekly pummeling for a very young second team.

Blackheath adjusted their sights and, in 2007, were accepted into the I’Anson, with teams in Divisions Four and Five.

The promising colts players matured quickly and it took the first team just four seasons to reach Division?One.

This season, the 2nd XI finished a comfortable sixth in Division Three and a 3rd XI held position in Division?Five.

“It was the youth policy that made the difference,” says club secretary Simon?Jones. “Nine of the former colts are playing for the first team. The I’Anson is a good league and we are glad we made the move.”

Older players, such as Paul Nash and Australian Dallas McDermott, who came as an overseas player and stayed on, are survivors of the Surrey Championship days. And the contribution of all-rounder Paul McRae, the current overseas player, can be seen by his dominance of the playing statistics.

The future looks bright. The Melhuish brothers, Will, Tom and skipper Peter, are still students and local lads, as are most of the players. Continuity is a key factor in the club’s success. Robbie Burns has chalked up 50 years as Blackheath’s scorer.

Players from all three teams raised the roof in the Tangley pavilion on Saturday and the celebrations will continue at the club’s awards dinner.