OTLEY skipper Freddie Watson has set the bar high in terms of their ambitions for the new National League Two North season.

The Cross Greeners finished 11th last season, but Watson said: "We definitely want to do better than last year.

"We want to finish in the top half (eighth or better) and ideally in the top four.

"However, that is off the top of my head and we will be sitting down over the next few weeks to set targets for the season."

Otley, who still have Peter Clegg as director of rugby, have a new head coach this season in Charlie Maunder, who has moved up from backs coach, while his assistant is former Yorkshire Carnegie centre Tom Casson.

Watson said: "We still want to play in the expansive style that we have before and chuck the ball around, but have a bit more structure in terms of our forwards, with new line-out calls etc.

"Also we have the benefit of having Tom involved in pre-season, rather than coming in later in the season."

As for how Otley will improve to climb up the table, Watson said: "We need to play for 70 to 80 minutes.

"Previously we would have a good half and be let down by a poor ten or 20 minutes, or we would start a half poorly.

"We need to eliminate those poor periods and we need to stop letting in soft tries."

Otley, who have a new regular home kick-off time of 2pm, start by entertaining Stourbridge on Saturday.

Watson said: "We haven't selected a side yet, but I would expect all of our new signings to be involved, such as Ollie Goss, Joey Graham, Joe Rowntree etc.

"Stourbridge are a big set of lads and are always good, so we will need to be at it from the off."