TYNEDALE coach Tom Bramald believes spirit and belief will be key to his side building on Saturday’s 38-34 home win over Rosslyn Park.

The five-tries-to-four triumph was only Tynedale’s seventh from 21 attempts in a season which sees them fifth from bottom despite a number of enterprising performances.

Bramald, who took charge on Saturday with regular head coach Tom Borthwick away, said: “We have been playing decent stuff at times this season without always necessarily getting the results to reflect that.

“Getting over the final hurdle has proved difficult for us, so to reverse that trend a little is a fantastic feeling.”

Another injury-ravaged campaign has seen the Corbridge club battling on without a number of their stars, skipper Jack Harrison only returning last weekend after seven weeks out with a rib cartilage.

No 8 Ollie Stedman has been snapped up by Newcastle Falcons and Bramald’s side had to make do without four injured lock-forwards in their last league outing.

They managed it in fine style, out-lasting Rosslyn Park in an exhibition of running rugby which had both sides crossing the try-line at regular intervals.

All five of their tries came from the back-line, replacement centre Tom Bramwell slicing through for the winner in the final minute after an earlier double from Alex Fieldhouse and one apiece for Hamish Smales and Chris Harris.

Bramald added: “It was pretty tense to watch from the dug-out.

“Even against one of the top teams in the division I knew it was going to be a tight game, given how the lads had trained during the week, the way they had focused and the opportunity they all knew they had.”

With injuries and absentees having the silver lining of opportunities for others, Bramald said: “There were two favourable bounces of the ball along the way, but we had spoken during the week about a one-to-20 effort.

“Our bench made a huge difference in that regard, and similarly some guys were given starts who had perhaps been more squad or fringe players prior to that. They took their chance and you cannot ask for much more.”

Given a fortnight between matches as six of the leagues sides catch up on postponed encounters this weekend, Bramald and his charges will have extra preparation time as they prepare to travel to Macclesfield.

He said: “We have a rest this weekend with no game to look forward to, then we have Macclesfield the Saturday after in what is a big game for us.

“They are a good side who are winning games recently despite their league position and for that bottom end of the table it is a really important 80 minutes.”

Hoping their Rosslyn Park form can be repeated during the closing stretch of the campaign, Bramald added: “As long as we keep our spirit, keep playing with belief and keep trying to play good rugby then we will be fine.

“We are a very good side, but we need to catch a break.

“Trusting ourselves and backing ourselves to win these games is going to be the key, and that is a big part of what we will be looking for during the remainder of the season.”

Meanwhile, in women’s rugby the Darlington Mowden Sharks trio of Centre Rachel Roberts, No 8 Abbie Scott and prop Amy Needham have been named in the England under-20s side to face their French counterparts in Esher on Saturday.

Head coach Amanda Bennett said: “Losing three times against France last season was deeply disappointing.

“Even though we reduced a 50-point deficit in February to a six point deficit less than a month later, we know we have to work harder as playing on the international stage is tougher every year.”