WORSBROUGH Bridge manager Lee Morris admits his usual aim of making year on year progression will be harder than ever this season after a record-breaking campaign – but believes they can.

The Briggers finished sixth in NCEL Division One last season with 70 points – their best ever season after more than four decades in the NCEL.

Between a start which saw them not win any of their first nine games, and a finish of two wins in ten, they won 18 out of 23 matches and were the form team in the division. Morris said: “Each year we try to get a higher finish.

“It definitely gets harder and last season will take some beating.

“But there is no reason we can’t.

“We need to get off to a much better start. We have six or seven players away for the first few weeks, like a lot of teams, but we just need to stay in the mix because I believe, when we have our full squad, we are a match for anyone.

“Last season was amazing but I am still gutted we didn’t quite make it to the play-offs. When you see other teams celebrating promotion, it’s tough.

“But we live and learn. We dropped silly points towards the end as well.

“The league will be a lot harder this year with some teams coming into it with big backing.”

Worsbrough start at Harrogate Railway on Saturday then host Leeds UFCA in the League Cup on Wednesday. Morris said: “It’s come round pretty quick. Every year, we seem to start earlier and earlier.

“The lads are working hard and have come back fit It’s a very similar squad.

“We’ve lost three or four and brought in the same number.

“We’ve kept the nucleus because I didn’t think we were far away last season. I think we’re stronger now.

“The club is on the up and it’s a nice place to be around. The results and the crowds are getting better all the time.

“The chairman and the volunteers do so much work to support us as players and staff.”