Yorkshire Carnegie are getting better all the time says Phil Davies

Carnegie are 11 points adrift at the bottom of the Championship – having lost every game so far this season – and were crushed 52-0 at second-placed Cornish Pirates last week in Davies’ first match since returning to the club where he spent a decade as a player and coach around the turn of the century.

They face unbeaten league leaders Newcastle Falcons at Emerald Headingley tomorrow in what Davies admits is another “big challenge”, but the Welshman believes he can already see signs of better times ahead.

“Our focus has been on improving in the long-term, however I have to say I have seen the guys get better with every training session,” Davies insisted.

“Obviously we are part-time and that means we have limited time on the field together, however we have made extra gym sessions available for the boys thanks to Weetwood Hall and Implexus Gym in Leeds so they can fit more in around their schedules away from the club and they have all taken advantage of that.

“I would also like to say a big thank you to the Leeds Beckett team who gave up their time this week to have an opposed session against us at the Headingley campus.

“They have got a big game themselves this Saturday against Swansea and we wish them all the best with that.”

Davies also knows not every fixture will be as tough as his first three. He added: “Away trips to Cornish Pirates and Jersey Reds either side of a home game against Newcastle Falcons, three of the top four currently in the league, is a tough assignment to start the year, but our focus is on seeing improvement in all areas of our game. If we are doing that then we will be stronger for the experience in the remaining games this season,”

Davies has made two changes to his side for tomorrow’s game.

Young hooker Adam Brown comes in for Louis Musetti, who is a replacement this week and James Robins starts at full-back.

Robins’ inclusion allows Dan Lancaster to revert from full-back to centre and Joe Carlisle replaces Joe Ford – who is ruled out through illness – at fly-half.

Yorkshire Carnegie (v Newcastle): Robins, Lawson, Varndell, Lancaster, Shaw, Carlisle, Elliott, Davidson, Musetti, Faletau, Brady, Bloodworth, Lloyd, Humfrey, Whitehurst. Replacements Musetti, G Smith, Ajayi, Els, Hill, Green, Metcalf, Magee.

Kick-off: Tomorrow, 3pm.