Needs must and the home side delivered both form and commitment enough to continue their climb out of the drop zone. Cambridge squandered the 60% plus of possession. Blackheath had the pace and the purpose. Credits all round to CLUB, particularly to the touchline team. The second half however was a very different story. For the historical context, Teflon Tony had survived a six hour Inquiry endurance test the previous day and Andy Murray has just begun his second grand slam final hoping that racquet and ball stick in the right place at the right time. CRUFC seemed able to grasp this essential in their line out work only to lose it, big time, in open play. Blackheath managed the opposite for the first 40 minutes. Stewart Pearl found the spot every time and our forwards fingers disregarded the bitter cold, catching crisp and even. The triple of lineouts awarded to the Club were turned over magnificently. Nine out of nine. In contrast the ball slipped easily out of Cambridge midfield fingers at a constant rate. Stef Liebenberg's distribution was at its best, but became a repetitive sequence of quick, slow, stop. Hardly frost bitten fingers, much more nervousness, lack of belief and confirmation that form is indeed in the mindset. (6-3 Federer first set!) Compound the deficiency with a lower perceived need to win than your opponents, as well as a gut felt want to dictate, then ball retention becomes secondary to confused intentions. Kicking into space is the best example. Blackheath kept their kicks close at hand, penetrative, breaking the Cambridge first line of defence and always followed up. Cambridge punted long and into the safe hands of the Club back 3 to be returned always with a territorial advantage. Measured decisions on penalty kicks by Blackheath alone, delivered the essential and only points of the first half. 3 out of 5 attempts, it could so easily have been more. Good stuff from fast improving young kicker and 10, Paul Humphries. His tally to date, 145 points to lie 4th in the kicking table just behind Frankie Neale of London Scottish. Tom Wheatcroft, kicking for the first time this season, was asked to do better with two chances, neither easy and was indeed demonstrating an attack of nerves as both fell short. Poor decisions when the need had become points and the kick to the corner a simpler and easier option. Recall the line out possession at that stage - 0% for Blackheath!

After 30 minutes the visitors, who had been awarded a free tour of Bexleyheath on the way to Rectory Field, woke from their travel lethargy. At last some pace on display but nothing that seriously threatened the Blackheath defence. Our opponents were a transformed XV. Mobile forwards, young backs (average age 21) and a sense of a team unity far better expressed than their opponents. But so far no tries so at least the laws or the referee's interpretation of them or the lack of finesse was inhibiting excitement and entertainment for the 500 or so, terraced and refrigerated spectators. There were a 100 more bathed in winter sunshine whose endurance levels were not yet tested.

Half Time Blackheath 9 Cambridge 0

Whatever was said behind closed doors in the Cambridge changing room changed the temperature setting. Scrum half Stef and hooker Pearly led the passion platoon, and the visitors upped the tempo for a time. Then the balance of the game swung back to Black. (Murray losing the 2nd set, no sweet chariots to call upon north of the border) The Club opened the scoring with a successful forward drive in the clubhouse corner. "Not sure who scored" as announced, was attributed to lock Tom Bason and well converted by Paul Humphries. Just a final quarter to play and a comfortable home team, lead given the pattern of play. Cambridge now needed tries and opportunities to realise them. Ben Cooper and Dave Archer came on and immediately stabilised the Cambridge pack. Authority at last, except for the odd loss of one line out ball and the concession of a yellow card very late in the game. The visitors were purposeful, enough to score twice from pressure, my two heroes on the day scoring from close encounters. Well done Stef and Stewart. Handre had some blistering runs, Shanners intercepted from his own half but  with only 2 gears to call upon was caught 50 metres later. James Hinkins had joined at half time and did enough to secure a starting place next week. (Not my call however!). But even more to add contentment, Tom Wheatcroft found his target with two clean conversions, promises of better to come in February as Craig's ankle hopefully takes a turn for the better.

Full Time Blackheath 16 Cambridge 14

Blackheath hung on in there with relief, as did our supporters intent on proving their punter credentials. What might have been is now consigned to history. Blair and Federer might well have slipped up but didn’t. Cambridge were never going to win by a cricket score and that is the beauty of a well constructed league system.

Esher continue to demonstrate that they are a level 2 side on sabbatical in National 1 and Manchester committed to a season to come in National 2 North. Nuns are slipping away from the recovery trail and many clubs mid table like Blackheath registering impressive wins, notably Wharfedale at Redruth. Home advantage counts and with that in mind it is concentration now upon our next 3 home games at West’s Renault Park. Cinderford, Sedgley Park and Otley should on form offer 15 league points to Cambridge. Blackheath have much tougher propositions against Esher, Scottish and the Cornish All Blacks. Best of luck Club you need as much as you can muster. Wow, Murray leading 5 games to two in the third. Is it not all over?. Unlike Cambridge yesterday, he seems to have found that illusive will to win. Form is indeed a will o' the wisp, a jack o' lantern when it is lost, yet regained as if by magic as winning ways return. Doing things right and doing the right things.

Mal Schofield