Saxons chief looks for top six finish

Director of Rugby Neil Mitchell reckons Stourbridge Saxons are on course for a top six finish in National League One after propelling up the table.

The Saxons ran out 16-21 winners at Otley last Saturday and leapfrogged this week's visitors Tynedale into sixth place in the process.

Mitchell said: "We were aiming for the top six this season and we have got a shot at it."

However, the Stourton Park boss warned his side they would have to improve on their performance in a scrappy game at Cross Green if they are to claim maximum points this weekend.

He said: "The officials did not ruin the game, we conspired to make it difficult for ourselves.

"We are a young side and we can be naive in how we talk to the referee, which didn't help.

"We committed too many to the breakdown, which we haven't been doing in recent games."

Mitchell did see positives from the match though, praising the defensive contribution of centre Tom Jarvis and the place kicking of Alistair Bressington.

The Saxons chief was also pleased with the way his side closed out the match despite having only 14 men on the field after Jordan Page's late yellow card.

He said: "It is another step forward for this young team. Had it been a few years ago we would have struggled to hang on to the win, but this team has got something about it.

"We have got two home games now and if we win those we will go into Christmas on a high.

"Tynedale have not been playing well, they lost to Rosslyn Park, Redruth and Barking and historically they don't travel well.

"If we clear up the areas we struggled in at Otley we can do well. We have got to back ourselves and come out strong."

With a number of his fringe players out on loan, Mitchell explained that the lack of injuries would mean just a few tweaks going into Saturday's game.

He said: "If I have to I'll call people back, but it is difficult to change a winning side."