OLD OTLIENSIANS coach John Walker is delighted with the way his side have adapted to playing in Yorkshire Three after winning promotion last season.

There has been the odd hiccup along the way, but his team have won seven of their 12 league matches and sit sixth in the table ahead of Saturday's clash with Rotherham Phoenix at Chaffers Field.

"I think we have surprised a few teams and early in the season we actually shared top spot., " said Walker.

"It’s quite a contrast from this time last year when the team stayed pretty much injury-free up until the last month of the season, whereas within the first few weeks of this season we were inundated with injuries including influential captain Nathan Rogers, but hopefully he and others should be back after Christmas.

" Sadly, former captain Ieuan Cranswick had to give up rugby altogether after suffering his second serious injury in a year.

Most teams will use injuries as an excuse for poor performances, but while there have been a couple, there have been opportunities for our young lads to step in to cover these injuries and they have performed exceptionally well."

Walker has been pleased with the way his youngsters have progressed but knows there is work to be done.

The step up to Yorkshire Three, while not individually a great leap, means the level of intensity required of the team every week is the main difference.

"There are no easy games and on any given day any team can beat its opposition, so the need to maintain both focus and intensity is even greater. Combine this with the fact we have four additional league fixtures, it’s easily understandable why a much larger squad is required."

Walker added: "It’s also been good to see the second team begin to settle down with a more committed group of players. It’s been tough for managers Alan Garnett and Peter Tempest at times, but their perseverance is starting to pay off, and whilst everyone wants to play first team rugby, the squad does need a strong and committed second team so as to not allow complacency to set in."