A TOUGH test awaits Evesham when they host Redditch on Saturday (ko 2.15pm), according to head coach Gary Diston as they return to action in Midlands Three West (South).

Weather permitting, the Lower Albert Road side look to get back to winning ways against sixth-placed Redditch, two weeks after they lost their last league clash, 13-0, at Old Yardleians.

Diston’s side lie third-from-bottom with 14 points and just three victories from eight games.

With no league or cup clash last weekend, Diston’s bid to run the rule over some of the club’s youngsters was thwarted by the big freeze.

An Evesham u25s development side were set to travel to Ross Road to take on Ledbury seconds, but the game was called off due to a frozen pitch. Evesham firsts were forced to arrange an alternative fixture after scheduled opponents Aston Old Edwardians had to postpone the two side’s North Midlands Senior Vase second round clash, as the latter were still involved in a higher-ranked competition.

But the enforced break also gave Diston time to reflect on his side’s start to the season.

He believes Evesham can still achieve their pre-season target of a mid-table finish and says his youthful charges are starting to gel.

After the Redditch clash, Evesham face another derby when they travel to Mayo Road to take on Shipston-on-Stour on Saturday, December 11. Despite a struggling start, Diston highlighted the form of hooker Luke Matthews, back row Liam Green and scrum-half Charlie Bennett as positive factors for his young side so far this campaign.

Diston said: “There are some good players coming through our youth section.

“I was looking forward to the game last weekend to see the young players.

“They play with no worries and just go out and enjoy themselves. All the lads were really up for the game.”

Speaking on the Redditch encounter, he added: “It will be a very tough game for us.

“They’ve lost to the same teams that we have so far.

“It’s an odd league this season. It’s hard to work out how they (Redditch) have been playing and I only take the results so far at face value. In three or four games this year we haven’t been able to put out a full-strength team due to injuries.

“We can compete against Redditch. We will have the boys up for it and we need to stick to our game-plan.

“I think we’re on course for a mid-table finish this season and we’ve performed well in most of the games.

“We were really disappointed to lose the first game of the season against Upton.

“We absolutely dominated them. They had three breakaway tries. That result really frustrated the players.

“We need to get that consistency and I think we’re getting that edge back now.”