Pratt wants to see harder edge

Andy Pratt begins his second stint at the helm of Canterbury on Saturday with a trip to Cinderford for what he claims will be a good indicator of what is required this season.

The city club’s head of rugby returned to the Marine Travel Ground this summer after a season away and has set his sights on raising standards as they seek to consolidate their National 2 status.

Canterbury completed their preseason with an 80- 0 success at Southend on Saturday, although Pratt said: “We played well but I’m not sure it’s the best team Southend have ever put out. It’s hard to tell too much from it. We’ll know a lot feels recharged after a year away, coming back in ‘an extended role’ from his previous head coaching duties.

He said: “It’s been a good summer. We have had three good run-outs and the most important thing is that we have not sustained any serious injuries. We’ve had the rub of the green in that respect and that’s not always been the case in recent years.”

Pratt wants to instil a winning mentality at Merton Lane, adding: “I want us to have a harder edge. We have generally been very focused on levels of performance and, of course, you need to perform to get wins but there are other things you need.

“We need to do what we can to pick up wins. We need to set high standards and we’ll be providing more specific feedback to players about what they need to do to improve.

“Teams are getting more and more professional in this league and also the whole of the rugby system. We have to do what we can to raise our standards and make sure we compete.”

Max Cantwell is unavailable, while Alex Wake-smith could miss the opening few weeks of the season with a shoulder problem.

Backs Jonathan Murray and Kieran Thompson plus flanker Hugh Mccormick-huston are set for debuts, with newcomers Aaron Cooper, Elliot Cohen and Freddy Edwards among the replacements.