by Nick Sullivan
Despite fewer wins, this week’s opponents are one point ahead of Blackheath by virtue of more bonus points. Such is the competition in the season to date that bonus points are making a big difference in placings.
So eyes down and concentrate as the southeast London side head up the M11 to meet Cambridge (5th) at Volac Park. A ground Shanners knows only too well and a team that has already taken a couple of significant scalps this season. Blackheath will be taking nothing for granted as they prepare for their 19th league meeting against the Blood and Sand.
The League
National One as at Friday 12 October 2018
| Psn | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | PD | TBP | LBP | Points |
| 1 | Chinnor | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 142 | 125 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 21 |
| 2 | Old Elthamians | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 186 | 171 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 21 |
| 3 | Caldy | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 169 | 149 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
| 4 | Darlington Mowden Park | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 165 | 157 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| 5 | Cambridge | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 131 | 121 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 18 |
| 6 | Sale FC | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 184 | 178 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 18 |
| 7 | Cinderford | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 160 | 134 | 26 | 3 | 3 | 18 |
| 8 | Ampthill & District | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 155 | 144 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 18 |
| 9 | Blackheath | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 127 | 96 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 17 |
| 10 | Rotherham | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 173 | 148 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 17 |
| 11 | Plymouth Albion | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 122 | 119 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 17 |
| 12 | Rosslyn Park | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 158 | 156 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
| 13 | Bishops Stortford | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 170 | 112 | 58 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
| 14 | Esher | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 104 | 143 | -39 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| 15 | Birmingham Moseley | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 149 | 207 | -58 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| 16 | Loughborough Students | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 105 | 240 | -135 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Past Meetings and Recent Results
Weeeeell, if you average out the points these two have scored against each other in their 9 seasons – on and off – together in the National League, it works out at 29 each. Blackheath total 521 to Cambridge’s 516. Of 9 meetings at Grantchester Road, Cambridge have a clear advantage – 6 wins to Club’s 2 (and a draw, in February 2017). Blackheath, though, did win both last season’s encounters (16 – 27 away in December and 23 – 12 at home in April).
Cambridge have found a decent run of form in their last couple of games. Notably, last weekend, they bested Ampthill 6 – 13 on the latter’s home turf and on 29 September they took the points at home over Plymouth Albion, beating the Devon side 32 – 26. Prior to that, Cambs had fallen 17 – 10 away at Esher.
Match Day Details
Kick off at Volac Park is 3pm. The man in the middle is James Clarke, ably assisted by Jason Newell and David Myers.
Its looking a little bit breezy tomorrow. Sunny intervals and a temperature around 24 degrees by kick off, but a fairly stiff looking 19/20 mph southerly breeze could make kicking interesting.
If you are not travelling to Cambridgeshire this weekend, don’t forget the always excellent Graham Cox on BBC Radio Kent (96.7 FM, 104.2 FM, 774 AM, DAB & On-line) who provides live score updates and reports, post-match interviews, plus a full round-up National League results for all Kent clubs after 5 pm.
Team News
Blackheath First XV V Cambridge AWAY 13 October 2018
| 15 | Nick Foster |
| 14 | Jake Lloyd |
| 13 | Henry Staff |
| 12 | Markus Burcham (Capt) |
| 11 | Craig Dowsett |
| 10 | Mark Cooke |
| 9 | Stef Liebenberg |
| 1 | Tom Williams |
| 2 | Mike Perks |
| 3 | Danny Herriott |
| 4 | Neale Patrick |
| 5 | Tom Stradwick |
| 6 | Freddie Owen |
| 7 | Harry Bate |
| 8 | Anders Nilsson |
| 16 | Harry Fry |
| 17 | Phil Ackuaku |
| 18 | Ciaran Moore |
| 19 | Jack Daly |
| 20 | Elliot Clements-Hill |
Around the Grounds
In a testament to how close the league is, last weekend, the teams in 2nd and 3rd both lost, but are now 1st and 2nd respectively. Blackheath on the other hand started the day in 9th, won, and remain 9th but only 4 points off the lead, lack of bonus point hampering the southeast London side’s progress.
This time out, current leaders Chinnor (1st) head northwest to face improving Rotherham (10th). Hoping they slip up in South Yorkshire are Old Elthamians (2nd) who will start as favourites in their home tie against winless Loughborough Students (16th). Former leaders Caldy (3rd) entertain Ampthill (8th) in what could be an exciting game and Darlington Mowden Park (4th) probably start as favourites as they welcome Sale FC (6th) to the Darlo Arena.
Elsewhere, a solid, gritty clash in prospect as Cinderford (7th) host Plymouth Albion (11th) in the Forest of Dean. Rosslyn Park (12th) look to recover from last week’s loss at Well Hall as they take on Moseley (15th) at Priory Lane and, finally, Bishop’s Stortford (13th) have home field advantage in their tie against Esher (14th).
Good luck Blackheath and Come On Youuuu Cluuuuuub!
