By Charles Randall

22 December 2015


Blackheath begin their defence of the Royal London Club Championship in 2016 with a bye and then a home tie against the winners of Bexley versus the Sussex giants Preston Nomads.

If Blackheath can progress through a strong group containing the Kent League champions Hartley Country Club, they can start dreaming of a second consecutive final, most recently achieved by another Kent club Bromley in 2006 and 2007. Nearly 250 clubs have entered the 2016 competition, and the final is due to be held at the excellent Wantage Road county ground in Northampton on 18 September.

Bromley failed to win the 2006 final, leaving Chorley, Old Hill and Scarborough as the only clubs to have won back-to-back national titles. Club cricket strength seems to be spread more evenly these days. There have been a variety of winners, and Northern, from Liverpool, were denied their maiden title in 2015 by an excellent performance from Blackheath under the captaincy of Chris Willetts.

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