TYNEDALE head into this weekend’s season opener full of positivity despite a crushing defeat at the hands of their main rivals.

They ended their pre-season by going down 57-22 to North-East foes Blaydon, perhaps not the ideal preparation as they head down to Leicester Lions on Saturday to start the new National League Two (North) campaign.

However, there were some positive points to pick from the defeat to the team from the higher division, although it was largely a hard afternoon to stomach.

The team spirit at the Corbridge club is sky high with turn-out at training sessions overwhelming coach Scott Lawson.

And the prospect of playing their home games at Tynedale Park is a mouth-watering one for the players after playing half of last season away from the ground after their base was out of bounds from December onwards as a result of flood damage.

After making the trip to Leicester on Saturday, the much-anticipated first game back at Corbridge home soil will see Harrogate head north on September 10.