YMCA player-coach Mark Whitehead has given his players a target to finish the season in style.

With fellow mid-table side Billingham heading for Laund Hill tomorrow, Whitehead has told his players they should be aiming for a 15 point return from their final four games in National III North.

“We have already got one eye on next season, but I want us to finish this one the best we can,” said Whitehead.

“I have set the players a target of 15 more points from our final four games – which I honestly think is a reasonable aim.

“We face Sandal next week, which will be tough to take something from, but tomorrow we have the game against Billingham and then we also play West Hull and Beverley and I feel that we can gain points and push ourselves higher up the table.

“If we can do that then I think we will be able to call our first season at National level a real success.”

However, YMCA go into the game on the back on a 39-0 mauling at the hands of second in the table Sheffield Tigers last weekend, and Whitehead will seek a strong response.

“I don’t think anyone came out of the defeat at Sheffield Tigers with too much to pleased about from the game,” said Whitehead.

“We did alright in the pack in the set pieces, but aside from that it was not great and very much a wake up call for us all.

“We are still learning what we have to do to be consistent at this level.

“Sheffield are a quality side who stick to their gameplan, that is something we are not doing and we will need to learn.”

However, there will not be wholesale changes to the YMCA side with just a switch in the backs for the visit of Billingham.

“We won’t be making too many changes, in fact just one in the backs where Tom Bulloch will come in on the wing for James Tindall.”