Blood & Sand end pre-season campaign with frustrating Richmond defeat

CAMBRIDGE Rugby Club suffered a frustrating afternoon at Richmond on Saturday in their final preseason friendly before the new Champ Rugby season gets underway next month

- writes Steve Jackson.

A late try from Richmond put a gloss on their score as the newly promoted Champ side claimed a 36-26 success at the Richmond Athletic Ground.

Blood and Sand head coach Craig Newby told the club's website after the game: “It was disappointing to be honest. We focus on performance in preseason rather than winning but there were a number of things from last week we wanted to address and we didn't do it well enough.

“We have to go back to the drawing board - I've got to focus on the positives but I think today they were outweighed by the negatives. Ultimately what I've got in my locker is selection and some guys put their hands up today and last week and some guys kept their hands in their pockets.

“I don't want to be too emotional about it and it’s not a knee-jerk reaction but it's starting to get close to when we have to make some hard calls.

“I would've liked to go into Ampthill with energy and confidence - but instead we're going to go into the game with anger, and ‘edge’.