HARWICH and Dovercourt Rugby Club coach Shane Manning believes his team have made big strides this season.

And he has challenged his players to keep improving – regardless of what division they’re in next term.

Following a league restructure, the Low Road side were moved down a level into Eastern Counties League division two south for the 2014/15 campaign.

But after finishing second and losing just once, they are now unsure what division they start in next season.

Only the champions are set to go forward to a play-off, but top dogs Colchester are unsure what division they want to play in.

Regardless of what happens, Manning has hailed the campaign a “success”.

“The first team have improved greatly,” he said.

“At the beginning of the season we found ourselves down a league, which isn’t what we wanted.

“However, sometimes you have to take a step back to take a couple forward and that’s what’s happened.

“We focused on getting the boys fitter than they’d been for a long time.

“And we changed everything about the way we’d been playing, from the backs moves and line-outs to the overall structure and game-plan.

“But it only worked because the boys had a lot more dedication to training this season, which showed them that hard work and practice pays off.

“We’d lost a couple of senior players, for various reasons, but it proved a blessing in disguise as the younger guys who took their places really stepped up.

“We now have depth in almost every position, which bodes well for the future.”

Harwich scored more than 600 points in the league, with a high percentage coming from around 100 tries.

Top try-scorer Robert Edgar contributed 19.

“To finish the season second in the league, as well as Suffolk Plate champions and reaching the Suffolk Cup semi-final shows just how good the season has been,” added Manning.

“We were the only side to beat Colchester seconds and also had success in beating higher league opposition in Clacton, from the London League.

“We’re frustrated because we’re uncertain over which league we’ll be in next season.

“We’ll have to wait to see if we’ll be awarded a play-off spot, because of the situation with Colchester.

“Whatever happens, we just need to keep improving - not only the first and second teams but also our under-17s.

“We’ll celebrate this season but not get carried away.

“We need to keep improving and keep pushing ourselves, so planning for next season has already started.”

In addition to Edgar, Manning also sung the praises of new-boys George Woodley and Josh Jones, who have become permanent fixtures in the team along with others like Shaun Fox, George Brunning, Josh Leeks, Tommy Kite, Dave Fitch, Kyran Green and Jack Cairns.

He also praised experienced first-team players Paul Sewell, Clark Simpson, Nic Falivino and captain Kyle Hutchins.