Halstead Templars Rugby Club coach Barry Poulter feels there is more to come from his team in the second half of the season.

Templars headed into their Christmas and New Year break sitting fourth in Greene King Eastern Counties League division three south after a 17-15 defeat by Stowmarket thirds on Saturday.

Despite that loss, it has still been an encouraging first-half to the campaign for Halstead after being promoted to division three south last summer, but Poulter thinks a bit more experience may be needed as they look to hit top gear after the festive hiatus.

He said: “Overall we’re happy at the moment, but we have struggled in phases and I think it’s fair to say that we haven’t reached our full potential.

“We know we’re not quite hitting the levels that we could.

“It’s a tough league that we’ve been promoted into this year, though, so to to be competitive and sitting midway up the table at this stage is quite acceptable.

“The players have the potential to do it and we have to find the right balance on the day with working hard as teams in this league are tougher to break down.

“I think the key will be in experience and we do need to add a bit more of that in.

“It will come for the younger players, just playing at this level, but we could do with a few more experienced heads.

“We lost a few experienced players to retirements in the summer so we are looking to develop the squad.”