Boss Aspinall confident Harrogate are on the up

Harrogate thrashed fellow mid-table side Chester 39-22 three weeks ago before inflicting Sale’s first home reverse of the season a week later, courtesy of a 25-22 win, ahead of a stirring performance against leaders Macclesfield last time out, where they fell to an agonising 22-17 loss, Macc’s ninth-successive win.

“We were proud and disappointed at the same time,” he said of his side’s first defeat in a month.

“Sale two weeks ago was probably our best performance of the season but Saturday was a bit of an eye-opener for us and showed us what it takes to be at the top.

“We’re definitely looking up rather than down the table,” he added, ahead of this weekend’s trip to third-placed Caldy.

“Caldy away is never easy but we’ll go there looking to win. It’s always a tough and open game when you go there, but we won there last year so we’re confident we can get a result.

“And if we keep going as we are, then I think we’ll be looking at the table with a big smile on our faces very soon.”