Stour head coach Neil Mitchell warned his players there can be no excuses going into their tough clash away to Blackheath.

Mitchell will be able to call on a near full strength squad with only long term absentee Sam Robinson missing.

The coach has also been delighted to see the March sun drying out rugby pitches up and down the country.

He added: "We will have no excuses to call upon for this weekend's trip to Blackheath.

"We have a strong squad to select from plus I happy to see the sun shining.

"The quicker and harder the pitches are the better it is for us with the expansive style of rugby we try and play."

Mitchell is expecting a thrilling tussle with Saturday's opponents who lie one place above them in the National League Two table.

He added: "I'm really looking forward to this game because I'm expecting this to be the toughest of our remaining fixtures."

l Stour U17s made it through to the final of the North Midlands Plate final thanks to a 26-0 victory over Old Saltleians.

Stuart Greffe, Kieran Hollis (2), and David Palmer scored the all important tries.