Honest response to player meeting pleases Harrogate coach

The director of rugby called for honesty from his players and despite being pleased with its outcome, he said the real proof would come on the pitch.

Harrogate face another struggling side away this Saturday with a trip to Newcastle-based Tynedale.

Asked whether he had seen an improvement in attitude since the Broadstreet defeat, Aspinall said: “Ultimately we will find out this weekend.

“There’s been the right sort of things said and now, we obviously have another away trip ahead so we will see what it brings.

“It’s never a pleasant experience going through it sometimes but the learning that comes out of are for the better.

“I have no doubt that will be the case.

“This is a young group of players and they probably haven’t been through the same grilling that we have been through with other groups of players.

“They might be a young group, but they are a smart group and they do take the learning on board.”

The Tynedale fixture will be Gate’s last of a calendar year which has seen the club win the Yorkshire Cup and move ground to Rudding Lane.

And Aspinall was eyeing an early Christmas present, with the possibility of Harrogate turning the year above fierce rivals Otley.

“A win would just be awesome,” he added.

“It’s been a challenge for the last few months and I’m sure it has affected everybody in the club.

“But it would be great to top off the year with a win.”