This weekends National League 1 opponents are Blackheath RFC, who travel to the Arena from their Rectory Field HQ in South East London.

Blackheath RFC are currently in the silver medal position in the league table, with 64 points from their 14 wins, 1 draw and only 2 losses.

The losses were suffered on the first day of the season against Blaydon RFC away (29 – 16) and current leaders Richmond RFC at home (23 – 20), the draw came at home to Fylde RFC (34 – 34).

Other than that, Blackheath RFC have carried on with their work with a great deal of success, aided by 153 points from fly half and current top league points scorer Freddie Gabbitas, with 24 conversions and 35 penalties. Added to this, flanker David Allen has weighed in with 11 tries.

Last season, honours were even between the two clubs, with DMPRFC registering a handsome 50 – 10 at the Arena initially, then Blackheath RFC redressing the balance at home with a 29 – 27 win.

This season in the earlier game down at Rectory Field, Blackheath RFC recorded a comfortable 23 – 7 win and therefore the home side will be anxious to level matters today.

Last weekend, Blackheath recorded their 14th victory, with a 23 – 12 home win against struggling Henley Hawks RFC, who will have fought every inch of the way, as DMPRFC will remember from the visit there two weeks ago.

Being one of the oldest rugby clubs in continuous existence (after Dublin University Football Club and Edinburgh Academicals Football Club) the club is steeped in rugby history and many internationals have graced the club with their presence.

These include 3 players who played in the first ever England rugby international, in Charles Arthur Crompton, Charles Sherrard and Frederick Stokes who was the first England captain.

Others include Scotsman Mike Campbell-Lamerton, the esteemed Charles Burgess Fry, the enigmatic Mick ‘The Munch’ Skinner and fictional character Dr. Watson of Sherlock Holmes fame.

The score line against last weekend’s opponents Rosslyn Park RFC (17 – 10) belied the overall dominance of the game by DMPRFC and if the only disappointment was the fact that the result was not sealed with a try bonus point, then this just emphasizes how far the club have come since that unfortunate, but perhaps understandable bad run at the start of the season.

Two tries from lock Rob CONQUEST and a try from scrum half Bruno BRAVO, were added to with a conversion by centre Garry LAW.

From a DMPRFC perspective, the home win against Rosslyn Park RFC last weekend, not only gave the club their 8th consecutive win, but showed that the club are more than capable of competing at this level with the more famous and illustrious clubs in the game.