FIRSTLY, may I begin by wishing everyone a happy new year — I am sure it is going to be a good one for all involved with the Warriors.

It pleases me to be writing this with us sitting 12 points clear at the top of the Championship table after two good wins.

I am very glad that my Christmas wishes in last week’s column have come true and I’ve have reserved my Easter wish for promotion in hope of the same success.

Last Tuesday was a promising display against a determined Moseley team. There were glimpses of great rugby and our defence seemed to be improved from weeks gone by.

Bristol was a sterner test. For the first 20 minutes we came up against the kind of intensity we can expect, if we work hard enough, in the Premiership. Bristol came out all guns blazing and in truth we struggled to cope.

This was a wake up call and a reminder of just how far we need to go in order to survive in the top tier. Then started the Andy Goode show. Finishing off chances created by massive team effort, Goodey led the way in the points-scoring department finishing with an impressive 27 to his name.

The boys are very happy with a bonus point win away from home and we must back it up this Saturday. Our defence will need to be tighter.

With the match at Cornish Pirates around the corner, we have an opportunity to pull further away at the top of the table.

Bedford will be hurting after their loss away from home to the prior-mentioned Pirates, going down 23-13.

The memory of losing to us on their own patch will be sitting fresh in their minds also. I am sure they would love to return the favour.

A win will take us 15 points clear of our nearest rivals. The best possible outcome will take us 17 ahead.

Either way, it must be a win we come away with on Saturday. Winning the league as soon as possible is key to resting players and developing the squad to reach our peak in time for the play-offs.

It would mean we can rotate our squad giving important game time to those who haven’t featured as much as others.

With Alex Grove rejoining us at this key stage and Matt Mullan’s return imminent, we are getting stronger and stronger.

With two internationals still to be thrown in we can consider ourselves to be in a fortunate position.

Also, we had the slightly-delayed Warriors ‘secret Santa’ yesterday. It was the first time since before Christmas the whole squad had been together and, as with years gone by, it was an amusing occasion. Censorship permitting, the best presents will get a mention next week.

Finally, a big thank you to all those who travelled down the M5 last weekend — your support was hugely appreciated by the boys.

I hope you can join us on Saturday and I look forward to seeing you there.