Cambridge finished runners-up to Birmingham and Solihull in 2008-2009

By Steve Jackson BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

Cambridge's aim for this season can be nothing less than promotion to the Championship, according to their forwards coach Bob Crooks.

A last-gasp drop-goal from Craig Evans at Redruth back in November of last year set the team on a 15-game unbeaten league run that should have seen them promoted.

But the Rugby Football Union saw fit to deny them the chance to play in English rugby's second tier by remoulding the rugby landscape and they missed out by just one point.

"We just have to go one better than last year so we've set our major goal as promotion," Crooks said.

"We've set a series of little stepping stones and if we tick the boxes correctly, by the end of the season we should be where we want to be."

Significant departures over the summer saw top try scorer Luke Fielden and Mike Guess swap to Bedford Blues, and hooker Matt Miles emigrate to Canada.

Other stalwarts such as James Ross, Rich Candlin, Tom Kirkman and Laurence White have either retired or moved on.

Loan arrangements are in place with local National Two (South) debutants Shelford RFC and Peterborough Lions to give fringe and developing players competitive game-time.

Unlike last pre-season, when player recruitment was high, there have been few additions to the squad.

Hooker Stuart Pearl from Coventry, and props Steve Croall and James Armitage from Westcombe Park and Shelford respectively, have arrived to bolster the pack.

Lock Pete Kolakowski has returned to Wests Renault Park, too.

Skipper Darren Fox has a strong pack - possibly the strongest in National One - to play with, and influential scrum-half Stef Liebenberg is still in place behind them.

"The squad is a lot smaller, but in some ways we are stronger because the squad is more balanced," Fox said.

"Everyone is capable of making an impact on the first team and playing a valuable role."

In the backs, centre Alex Dodge from Nottingham and full-back Tom Wheatcroft from Worcester Warriors have added to the firepower provided by Chris Lombaard, Craig Evans and Adam Barnard.

Fielden's try-scoring will be a big miss, but fly-half and director of rugby James Shanahan, now approaching the veteran stage of his career, is vital to the team's decision making.

With the combative Handre Schmidt and newly-arrived Lithuanian international Geddis Marcisauskas vying for wing positions, there's plenty of power out wide.

In Evans and Ben Patston, Shanahan can call on two of the league's most consistent goal-kickers.

Despite off-field changes, with a new president in Jerry Otter and chairman in Ian Wilson, the squad remains strong and settled.

Shanahan and Crooks forged massive team spirit and a winning mentality which will stand them in good stead in a much stronger league this season.

There is no reason that they cannot go one better and top the table as Shanahan knows all too well.

"It's a really competitive league with five down from the old National One and it will be a lot tougher than last year.

"If we stay injury free and have a bit of luck there's no reason why we can't go one better than last year."

Steve Jackson will report on Cambridge RUFC throughout the season on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

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