Newmarket Rugby Club looking to keep exceeding expectations in the Counties 1 Eastern Counties

Head coach Martyn Wall has challenged his Newmarket players to continue ‘punching above their weight’ when they return to action after the Christmas break.

Playing at the highest level in the club’s history, Wall’s side signed off from 2024 sitting third in the Counties 1 Eastern Counties standings with nine victories from their 13 outings.

And ahead of the trip to fifth-placed Saffron Walden on Saturday, Wall is eager for the high standards to be maintained during the final nine encounters.

He said: “We’ve definitely exceeded expectations. This is our highest ever level as a club and the only target going into the season was giving it our all and seeing where that got us.

“To be near the top past the halfway stage, that’s definitely better than any of us expected, but at the same time we know the level that is within the squad.

“Over the last few years we’ve had a win ratio of around 75 per cent so the group has found its level, but now we want to push on during the remainder of the season.

“We’re excited for what is to come and we want the players to continue punching above their weight for the rest of the season.”

With a perfect record of 13 wins – including a 37-26 triumph at Newmarket’s expense on December 7 – league-leading Norwich look a sure bet to be crowned champions.

But the runner-up spot appears to be very much up for grabs with second-placed Ipswich just four points better off than Newmarket, who are level on points with Southwold in fourth.

Wall added: “It’s an old cliche but the players will be taking each game as they come. But I’ll be looking at the bigger picture and that battle with the teams that are around us.

“We’ve got a good run of games in terms of who we’re playing at home and who we’re playing away, so we’re looking to push on.

“If we can win the majority of our matches between now and the end of the season then we’ll give ourselves a good chance of finishing in the top three.”

Newmarket ran out 31-27 winners during the reverse meeting with Walden in September.