PERSHORE RFC captain Alex Peel says his team has a bright future but hopes the current crop can improve during the rest of the season.

Pershore lie in seventh place in Midlands Two West (South) on 14 points with five defeats from their first eight games following their promotion last term.

Their home clash with Earlsdon on Saturday (ko 2.15pm) may be at risk due to the wintry weather.

But the Mill Lane side hope to lift themselves up the table whenever the big freeze allows them to.

Tight-head prop Karl Evans looks set to miss the rest of the season after suffering a cruciate knee injury during the last campaign.

But openside flanker Chris Copson is in contention for a return in time for Saturday’s clash after recovering from a knee injury.

Loose-head prop Peel said: “We have a lot of young players in our youth section that come down on a Saturday to play.

“It looks good for the future. The last line of players that came through the youth system at the club was 10 years ago when I was 16. The set-up has really improved now.”

He added: “It’s our away form that we have been struggling with this season. In our home games we have managed to take bonus-point wins.

“We have to play the Earsldon game by ear with the weather. We will still prepare for it in the same way that we usually do.

“Everybody is itching to go. The players want to go out there and play. Martin Hope at number eight has been great this season, “We’ve got a good squad of players who have been playing together for the last four or five years. “We’re aiming for fourth or fifth place as a finish to this season now. Everybody can beat everybody else on their day in this league.”

“We’ve had problems with injuries throughout this season.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have the strength in depth in certain positions. We have people who are playing out of position at the moment.”