TAMWORTH RFC coach Andy Smith says his club's plans for the new season are well on track, writes Matt Panter.

The Wigginton Park men were promoted to Midlands Two West North last season and kick off their league campaign on September 11.

Tamworth will entertain Leek – who won Midlands Three West North – on the opening day.

And although the club have injury concerns over former skipper Paul Willars and experienced forward Jez Sandhu, Smith said: "The summer has gone well so far and we are ready for the season.

"We have kept the core of last season's promoted squad together and we have a few younger players who have come through the ranks and are ready to step up to the plate.

"So I'm confident we will cope with the demands of the league above and I'm positive that we can maintain our position at this level and push on.

"We have a tough start against Leek, who won our league last year, and then face Old Salts and Aston Old Eds, who were second and third.

"So we will need to hit the ground running and I'm hopeful we will."

Tamworth were edged out of a pre-season friendly by Midlands One side Derby on Saturday but Smith took a lot of positives from his side's 24-14 defeat.

"We were in the game until the end when they scored a breakaway try," he said.

"The result flattered them and given the fact that they were two leagues above us last year, we weren't outclassed at all. We played very well.

"It continues our good pre-season, because we won three games against Silhillians, Kidderminster and Wednesbury at an Old Yardleians RFC tournament the week before.

"We also drew with Silhillians and Wolverhampton at that competition and didn't lose a game so results, as well as performances, have been good."