This they did on the road at the Volac Park HQ of Cambridge RFC, but not before a tough contest from the 'Blood and Sand' outfit, who were seeking to pull themselves clear of the relegation dogfight.

The game itself evolved into a tough forwards battle, with some good defence from both sides, with the hosts well in the game until the final ten minutes.

On a bitterly cold day with a freezing wind, it was the hosts who registered first on the scoreboard, with a well struck penalty by after only three minutes by fly half Daniel Lewis after the visitors were penalised at a ruck. (3 - 0)

A forward battle then ensued, with DMPRFC gradually gaining the upper hand, taking the game to the opposition with relentless forward surges where props Jack PAYNE and Adam BROCKLEBANK, together with lock Talite VAIOLETI were most prominent.

However, it took another 24 minutes before DMPRFC replied, when forward pressure told, Jack PAYNE bulldozing over the line from close quarters after a series of pick and drives. (3 - 5)

It wasn't long before the talent of wing Adam RADWAN shone through as he escaped the home defence, scampering to the line and behind the posts for DMPRFC's next try, (3 - 10), easily converted by LAW. (3 - 12)

Cambridge applied some pressure on the visitors line just prior to oranges and only some resolute defence kept them out. However, DMPRFC skipper was adjudged to have transgressed in his defence and was sent to the 'cooler' as the match official heralded the break.

The players were deserving of a warm changing room and the supporters took the opportunity to get out of the cold, some catching the first half of the England versus Ireland game on television in the bar.

As the players entered the fray after oranges, it was the hosts who started the brighter and it was no surprise when former DMPRFC lock, Rob Conquest, now a Cambridge player, who scored the hosts first try, after some purposeful home attack brought a deserved reward, (8 - 12), with Lewis converting (10 - 12), to drag Cambridge back into the game.

Two well struck penalties by DMPRFC 's Garry LAW (10 - 18) edged the visitors into a lead, but Cambridge always seemed capable of a break out of defence and so it proved as a number of players were involved in a 60-metre try, scored by winger Michael Ayrton (15 - 18), however the conversion from replacement Benjamin Penfold sailed agonisingly wide of the mark.

Cambridge may have sensed a victory, with veteran flanker Darren Fox supplying his customary combativeness on his 100th appearance for the hosts. However, as the game entered the last ten minutes, DMPRFC showed why they remain 2nd behind Coventry RFC in the league, 'turning the screw' with a try by centre Ben FRANKLAND (15 - 23), with the conversion by Brett CONNON sealing the win for the visitors. (15 - 25)

Game Statistics:

CAMBRIDGE RFC
Thomas, Ayrton, Petrides (Hennessey, 52), Hema, Elvers, Lewis, Barker (Penfold, 60), Ibrahim, Griffiths, Moynihan (Meek, 35), Bretag-Norris, Baxter (Fox, 52), Conquest, Laxton (Ruddock, 54), McCloud.

Scoring:
Try: Conquest (51), (Ayrton (73)
Conversion: Lewis (52)
Penalty: Lewis (3)
Drop Goal: None

Sin bin : None
Cambridge RFC Player of the Match: Ean Griffiths

DMPRFC
Connon G, McCartney, Frankland (Blakeney-Edwards, 80),
Law (Mackenzie, 64), Connon B, Gibbs, Brocklebank (Appleby, 80), Poole, Payne (Barron, 80), Preston-Routledge (Duff, 77), Talite, Fisher, Craggs, Hodgson.

Scoring:
Try: Payne (27), Radwan (33), Frankland (80)
Conversion: Law (34, 80)
Penalty: Law (56, 68)
Drop Goal: None

Sin Bin: Hodgson (40), Gibbs (52)
DMPRFC Player of the Match: Jordon Poole

Attendance: 331
Referee: Dr. Jonathan Cook

NEXT WEEK: Home to Bishop Stortford RFC.

Photo Credit - Chris Fell