The new season starts in just over 10 days time and players are continuing their pre-season to get their fitness up to the level required for the season opener. Scrum half Joey Barratt is one of the players putting the finishing touches to his training regime before the season opener at Otley on Saturday, 2 September. Barratt is entering his first full season with team after playing the final third of the last campaign. It was a baptism of fire for the young scrum-half who feels the game time he got playing in National League 1 will serve him well.
“Pre-season has been tough, but it was what we needed,” Barratt said.
”The boys are getting ready to come back for the new season.
“It’s been better for me because of where I’ve been before. It’s obviously been much tougher at this standard, but with the group of players we have, it’s been a lot better for me to develop.
”The end of last season was great as it helped me integrate with the boys.
“Playing with Reece at #10 helped me guide the players round the pitch and I’m looking forward to it next season.
“If called upon I’ll be ready. I want to get out there and see what I can do. I have a lot to prove and a lot to work on as well.
“It’s a chance for me to do that with some very good players and against some very good players.
“Training against Doncaster Knights was amazing. It’s the highest level team I’ve ever played against and it was a really good experience.
“It was great to even watch them, but to train against them as well was even more special.
“They’ve brought a scrum-half in from Bath so it was good to see how he controls the game and the way he works around the ruck.
“I’ve taken on board a few of the things he does. I learned so much last season against League 1 sides, especially in the kicking game and where they kick to, the scenarios when the kicked and when they also want to play fast. I hope they develop me as a player.”
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