AFTER rating his team four out of ten in their National League One defeats to Coventry and Esher, Wharfedale coach Tom McGee awarded his team a significantly higher mark last Saturday at Blaydon.

On the back of a 43-13 victory in the north east after defeats by 41-14 and 46-26, the former Leeds Carnegie coach said: "I would give us six and a half or seven.

"It is all about establishing that game control early on, and the effect of that opening 20 minutes against Esher when we didn't score affected us mentally.

"We had been giving teams chances out wide because our defence was too narrow and we weren't really making teams work to score against us.

"But we were okay against Blaydon and played with more intensity. We got the basics right, which is what you need.

"The line-outs (Wharfedale won 13 out of 14) were better, the forwards were better and the centres (Cameron Hudson and Huw Morgan) were superb.

"Huw and Cameron have quick feet and they are strong and they have that ability to get their hands free to create space for those outside them.

"There is more to come from them, while our wingers are quick and powerful.

"Blaydon, who have a relationship with Newcastle, have suffered because of injuries and doubling up but they will be okay."

While the performance against Blaydon was a rung or two higher up the ladder, McGee also knows that his team are a work in progress.

He said of their general improvement: "It isn't going to happen overnight but compared to when I was here two years ago, we are a younger and more energetic side who are willing to learn, not that we weren't willing to learn before.

"Our skipper Josh Burridge is not playing in his favourite position but he has people around him that he can learn from.

"It would be be nice to put on a show at home on Saturday but we have picked up a few injuries, particularly among the forwards, and Cinderford will present a stern test."

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