As THEY gear up for fresh challenges ahead, Whitchurch will hope to draw as much as they can from their final warm-up game at Veseyans on Saturday.

After last weekend's scheduled opponents Congleton pulled out of their friendly, it means mean the Reds will have to make do with just two pre-season encounters as they prepare for life in Midlands One West.

They swept aside Telford 98-7 in their opening outing, but will expect a far more testing trip to the West Midlands this weekend.

"We had no game as Congleton cried off, which is disappointing as they originally wanted the game," said Whitchurch coach Scott Sturdy.

"Ideally we would have liked three friendlies, but it is what it is, and we have to make the best of it.

"It's difficult finding the right sort of friendlies, but Veseyans will be a good test as they were in the same league as us last season.

"We'll be taking 20 or so lads, and it's good for them to have a game away from home. At this stage, it's all about the performance, and not the result.

"With us stepping up to Level Six next season, we have changed lots of things, and it's a chance on Saturday to put them in practice before the season gets underway.

"We've got a tough start with five games in September, with the first against Droitwich."

With no more friendlies planned, the Edgeley Park men will then have four more sessions to hone their skills before the league season gets underway.

Some of the first team squad joined a second and third team friendly at Market Drayton which saw the sides finish 52-52.

Whitchurch, who won all 22 games in winning the Midlands Two West (North) last season, are under no illusions that life will far more challenging after stepping up to the Midlands One West this season on Saturday, September 1.