Canterbury v Blackheath

CANTERBURY Rugby Club chairman Giles Hilton is hoping his club can become only the third side to win the Shepherd Neame Kent Cup for three successive seasons.

The City club travel to Maidstone to take on Blackheath in a repeat of last season’s final, and should they win, Canterbury will emulate Blackheath and Westcombe Park as the other Kent club’s to have secured a cup hat-trick.

Mr Hilton said: "Prior to winning this cup in 2005 and 2006 it was 1976 when Canterbury’s name last went on the trophy, so it would be very nice to put a hat-trick on there now.

"We gave ourselves two goals at the start of this season; to survive in National 3 South and to retain the Kent Cup and thereby win it for a third time.

"This competition dates back a long way and for historical reasons alone it would be wonderful to have Canterbury as three-time winners in successive seasons."

* See this week's Kentish Gazette for the full preview.