I remember a year ago writing a call to arms message for the huge Old Elthamians game and boy did you respond! A record breaking crowd of nearly 1500 turned up to watch OE's lose for the first time.

This week I'm here again and we need you more than ever. As we extend a warm welcome to Paul Morris, Adam Balding and all at Cinderford RFC for what should be an absolute cracker, this is truly the battle of the best this season. Should we win and give them no points we will be back on the summit, should we win with a bonus point and they gain a bonus point once again we will be on the summit, but should we lose and a 2 game points difference open up, with only 10 games remaining it will be a tall order.

Both Cinderford and ourselves are determined to reach N1 next season and with OE's and Bishops Stortford waving the N2S flag so strong proving life in N1 is achievable without hitting a relegation battle, our focus couldn't be stronger. Top 2 is key for both clubs and with us consecutively beating The Rams there is a huge 17 point gap. The points difference between two and three at this stage of the season is the most important factor going into Saturday but it doesn't take away the fact it is the top of the pile hit out.

Everybody from any level of sport dreams of winning a league and all of the 40 players that take the field Saturday have exactly that drive and desire.

Last week against Worthing, a team who have picked up form of late and with a seriously dangerous backline, I thought our final 30 minutes was sublime. The attacking prowess oozed confidence with some seriously slick interplay. It was also good to have Chinnor's own 'Anti-hero' Greg Goodfellow back on the paddock scoring a trademark try on his return.

What do we know about this Saturday? Well for one BBC Radio Oxford are reporting live from Kingsey Road throughout the game!

Cinderford arrive at Kingsey Road with a superb pack - big, hard and very industrious. More importantly the coaching staff have a very simple but effective game plan to get the best out of them! If we are to beat them we need to massively front up as we did at their place and meet physicality with physicality then let our backs do the rest.

In the paper today Cinderford stalwart centre Robbie Winchle said about his own pack “Their scrummaging has been excellent – we haven’t lost a scrum all season"

This is a key weapon for them but he obviously forgot about the game at their place! We need to bring our set piece 'A' game as we did against The Rams and the rest will take care of itself.

For a neutral spectator it is going to be an awesome game of rugby not to forget the precursor with the respective team Extra's XV at 130pm...........plus we have a marquee going up in front of the beer shed to provide shelter in case of inclement weather, as well as more drinking space! Not to mention on the dug out side of the ground a pop up Pizza parlour by Monsta Pizza and our new bar in a horsebox!! In addition the famous Chinnor burger and a pop up Pork bap stall too!

Let the best team win and as always let's make some noise and get behind your boys. 11 games to go and none bigger than this weekend...call your nan, your Grandad, your Aunts, Your Uncles and all your friends (even the ones you only see at Christmas!!) Let's get a huge crowd to help roar your team on.

We are black, we are white....

Matt

#protectthenest