Skipper Joel Scott-Paul is determined to lead Ely Tigers into the promotion places after just missing out last season.
The Tigers, who last season finished third in London Three Eastern Counties, are currently one place better in second - but only three points separate them, leaders Wymondham and third-placed Holt.
It’s essentially a three-horse race for both the title and the sole play-off place, and the next three weeks will prove crucial as Wymondham and Holt face off this weekend before taking it in turns to host Ely.
“The next few weeks will be crucial and should establish who will finish where,” said Scott-Paul. “We finished third last season and we want to go at least one better this time.
“We’ve got depth in the squad we’ve been building up over the last few years, which is vital as this sport is getting more and more physical. It’s just making sure we keep everyone available and interested.
“The title and going straight up is preferable because you can come up against anyone in the play-offs. A few years ago we lost to Essex Upper Clapton, who had spent loads of money.”
Ely can also take heart that, for the second season in a row, they have run close a team from the league above in the Cambridgeshire County Cup.
Last season they narrowly lost 22-20 to London Two North East side Cantabrigians, and on Saturday they played the same side in the same competition, this time going down 10-6 in a low-scoring clash.
“The way we played both times against Cantabs showed we should be able to hold our own in the league above if we get there,” said Scott-Paul. “With us out the cup now, we can put all our focus on the league too.
“We could have stepped it up a few gears had the conditions been right, but the melting snow wasn’t ideal and both teams were dropping the ball.
“But while it’s disappointing we didn’t play as well as we could have, there were plenty of positives to take.”
The only score of the first half was a Cantab try from a dominant scrum on the five-metre line, and while Scott-Paul kicked two penalties to put Ely in front, Cantabs scored the winning try soon after from a rolling maul.
As Ely pushed for a winner late on, Scott-Paul found space on the wing and kicked for Matt McCarthy to dot down with one hand, but the officials saw no clear grounding and could not award the try.
Ely Tigers are hosting a series of taster sessions exclusively for women, and the first is free. No experience of the game is needed, and experienced coaches will be on hand to guide players through the basics.
The sessions are focused on touch rugby, the non-contact version of the sport. They take place at the club, off Downham Road, every Wednesday, from 7.30-8.30pm. To find out more, log on to Facebook.com/ELYRUFC or call Jonah on 07810 727840.
