WHILE a victory would have been preferable, a defeat in the first of three pre-season fixtures has highlighted areas that need to be worked on, according to Sedgley Park player-coach, Tim Fourie.

"Our set phases were okay, certainly our line-outs and scrums were better than Doncaster's, but I was disappointed with our lack of composure," he said.

"We've worked quite a bit on defence, specifically from the ruck area, but we still have to be sharper.

"We weren't pushing on both sides of the ruck. You have to keep your defensive line flat, but a couple of our guys were corner-flagging, stepping out and leaving gaps.

"They exploited them by reversing the ball, drawing the markers and then making an inside pass, so that they attacked the ruck area again where the gaps were. Their support play was much better than ours.

"But it's early days yet, we can learn from our mistakes, tighten up our defence, show a bit more composure, play with our heads up and not get caught out. But we have to do it quickly.

"In a way it's good playing and losing because straight away guys begin to concentrate more, they realise they are not as good as they thought and that they've lost to a team a division below them who scored most of their tries off mistakes.

"All the new boys came through well. Danny McGee was good, Jon Feeley scored a cracking try, Richard Welding made some good runs and scored, while Jimmy Ponton was very influential, helping the younger guys out."

In addition to preparing for tonight's trip to Grove Park to take on Manchester, Fourie is continuing his search for a second row to replace Paul Arnold, who has moved to Lancashire rivals, Orrell.

"It's the last piece of the jigsaw, when we get it we'll be a good side and hopefully it will be sooner rather than later," he said.

And the signs appear to be good. While the club continues to scour South Africa a couple of players have unexpectedly become available nearer home, and Fourie is confident he will have made a signing by next week. Watch this space.

Plymouth Albion, who open Sedgley's Park's inaugural National One campaign on Saturday September 4 at Park Lane, have signed England Under 21 hooker Stuart Friswell from Leicester Tigers.

He joins the likes of South African player-coach Glen Gelderbloom (Leicester); South African scrum half Henty Martens (Bath); Samoan No.8 Alfie Tooala (Orrell) and former England Under-21 prop Altan Ozdemir (Exeter).