CHRIS Ricketts believes Greyhound will have the bite to mount a serious promotion challenge next season after thrashing high-flying St Leonards 53-3 in Midlands 5 West (North).

The Hereford club were relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) last season and haven't really threatened the top two positions in their new league.

But they will secure third spot in the seven-team division if they avoid defeat against Stourport in their final game of the season next Saturday, April 16.

"We want our name on third, to secure that, and push on for next season," said Ricketts, who has recently donned the captain's armband in the absence of Joe Morris.

"We want to keep some of the social side going and get some fresh blood with a fresh emphasis on the club.

"We've had our troubles as a club in recent months and we've all bound together and pushed on."

Ricketts was delighted with last Saturday's performance.

"It was a great team effort and spirit, which was all down to the preparation of the lads," he said.

"We had a good training session in midweek and we've got players coming back from injury and making themselves available.

"When someone was having a bit of a lull, someone's putting their arm around them and bringing them on.

"We had a lot of experience in the side, which maybe made the difference, and I count myself as one of the old heads.

"I am absolutely chuffed with the performance."

Second-placed St Leonards only arrived for the game 20 minutes from kick-off, resulting in the match starting 10 minutes later than scheduled.

But Ricketts doesn't believe that had a true bearing on the game.

"Everything has to go into the encounter though and we've arrived 20 minutes before a game and put 70 points on teams," he said.

"Perhaps they didn't have the right squad and we were up for it from the minute we arrived."

"It was a close game back at their place and we usually have a bit of a lull, but we managed to kick on and put the points over the posts."

Greyhound scored eight tries in the game, with Elliot Phillips and Matt Eden helping themselves to two apiece.

Phillips got the ball rolling in the sixth minute when he drove over, with Pete Smith converting.

Smith then extended Greyhound's lead to ten points when he slotted over a penalty before Eden finished off a nice move after 15 minutes; Smith again converting.

Another try was scored by the home side after 28 minutes, this time by Liam Webdale, which put Greyhound 22-0 up.

St Leonards finally got on the scoresheet five minutes before half-time when Steve Talbot slotted over a penalty, but that was as good as it got for the Stafford side.

Greyhound extended their lead in the 45th minute when Eden scored his second try of the afternoon before St Leonards missed a penalty.

The home side threatened every time they got into the St Leonards 22 and they added more points in the 55th minute through Phillips.

After 63 minutes, Greyhound were 37-3 up after Ed Howarth ran through to score; Eden this time adding the extra two points. Try number seven came just four minutes later through Ali Paton, Eden again converting, before Lee Simpson added another seven minutes from time to take Greyhound past the 50-point mark.

Eden added the extras to seal an emphatic win.