NEW Earswick All Blacks ARLC coach Jack Stearman reckons his side have a “good foundation” to work on ahead of their season opener.

All Blacks finished last season bottom of the Yorkshire Men’s League premier division but have been given another crack in the top tier, avoiding relegation after other teams withdrew from the division.

However, last season, the White Rose Avenue outfit were missing some key figures from their 2017 promotion-winning campaign, while Stearman believes his younger charges will have benefited from the learning experience.

On Saturday (2.30pm), Stearman’s men travel to Lindley Swifts.

Sean Malarkey, Liam Gargan, Tom Holmes and Reece Blake are all back available for All Blacks, although Sam Cooper has moved to Australia with work.

Stearman said: “We’ve been at it since November. Obviously a long pre-season. The lads seem to be working hard and we’re looking forward to the challenge on Saturday.

“I feel we’re stronger as a group of players. We only got hammered twice last season. We competed, we just couldn’t get into the winning habit.

“It’s good to have a few older, more experienced players in, and the younger kids will grow from last year. It’s a good foundation to push forward.”

All Blacks had a tough time in the premier division last season after coming up to the premier division as champions of division one. Of their 14 games, All Blacks avoided defeat in only two, winning one and drawing. The one they won was 24-20 at home to Lindley, though they lost the reverse fixture 46-10.

“They’ve got a big set,” Stearman said. “They bullied us a little bit last year and we’re expecting the same this year but we’re ready to go at them.”

All Blacks have taken in three pre-season fixtures in preparation for the new campaign, winning two and losing one.

“We were a bit off in the game we lost,” Stearman admitted. “But that’s what friendlies are about. Hopefully we’ll put right the wrongs.

“I saw improvement in the friendlies. The premier division is a different kettle of fish but there’s a positive feeling and hopefully we’ll get the results we’ve been working towards.”

On his targets for this term, he added: “Turning the losses from last season into wins and competing. There’s no reason we can’t finish mid-table if we work together week in, week out.”

York Acorn ‘A’ begin their division two campaign at home to Skirlaugh Bulls. Both plied their trade in division one last season.

In National Conference League Alliance Group 2, Heworth ‘A’ host West Bowling.