Clogher Valley head coach, Stephen Bothwell, is looking for his side to build on the success of last season.

The Valley enjoyed Junior Cup success while they also pushed Instonians all the way in the league and they would like to go one better this time around, although Bothwell knows that they face plenty of tough challenges if they are to achieve that goal.

“That’s the plan, we want to keep improving but no doubt the other teams will have improved too.

“Obviously, Ballyclare will be very good and will be motivated to try and go up and they have a big squad. The likes of Dromore I know have strengthened and Cooke were coming good at the end of last season and they won’t get any worse, that’s for sure.

“Then you have City of Derry who have come down and they will be eager to get straight back up again while Limavady have come up and they will be looking to try and get a foothold in Qualifying One.

“Last year there was a couple of massive games and then we won the other games comfortably, I can’t see it being that way this season, I think there will be tougher games right through.

“There are then the derbies against Enniskillen and they can go either way,” he said.

Good preparations

Bothwell says that preparations for the season have gone well with wins coming over Belfast Harlequins and Ashbourne while those games have also gave him an opportunity to see a lot of players in action as they get ready for the start of the season.

“We used a lot of boys against Harlequins and the standard remained good and against Ashbourne we used two separate sides and both sides did well so there is a great competition for places but we still have plenty to work on in regard set moves and we’ll look at that this week.

“We are still working with a big squad and I’ll have to do a bit of narrowing down this week,” he said.

Pushing for places

Bothwell has maintained his squad from last year and has a number of younger lads who are pushing for inclusion this season which bodes well for competition.

“We have boys from the U18s; Jamie Allen came in last year when he turned 18 and got games, he’s pushing hard and then you have boys who were on the edge of the squad last season and are now really pushing; boys like Joel Busby, Matthew Wilson, Michael Bothwell and Tain Haire.

“We also have a lad over from Belgium who wants to play and he is on the fringes and it is nice to see boys like that dropping in. Competition is hot there at the minute,” he insisted.

Clogher get their campaign underway on Saturday at home to Carrickfergus and Bothwell is aiming for a good start to the season.

“Last year Carrick were very good at the start of the game, they are a very heavy side, they have a big scrum and their set piece is very good but I don’t know if they have additions or what way they are. It is a new season and you just take it as it comes and see how it goes from there.

“We want to get a good start and build momentum. The old adage is take it a game at a time and see where we end up,” he added.