Royston RFC coach Mick Jones says a change in mentality and commitment have been the main catalysts for his side’s upturn in form this season.

The Crows demolished struggling Wasps FC 73-0 in Herts/Middlesex One on Saturday in their opening encounter of 2017 following a three-week Christmas and New Year break.

Royston sit fourth after eight wins in 12 games and are still in with a slim chance of promotion and for Jones, who is in his inaugural season at the club’s helm after leaving Cambridgeshire side Cantabrigians in the summer, that’s much improved from previous years.

Jones told the Crow: “The objective before the season was to try and get us promoted which was probably a tiny bit ambitious as we finished ninth last season and just about stayed up.

“However, to go from ninth to fourth and aim now to finish top four, it’s just shown the big improvement the boys have made.

“A lot of that is down to them. They’ve committed to training and to making themselves available for every game.

“It’s the same players [as last season] as well so it’s them that have changed their mentality and attitude towards each and every game.

“We’ve just got ourselves organised, worked on our ball skills and right now we’re really focussed and playing some good rugby.”

The Heath side next face London Welsh Druids, the outfit directly below them in the division, and Jones wants a big performance to stave off their advances.

He continued: “They’re a well-organised and well-drilled side and going into London is going to be a difficult game for us.

“However, we beat them at home earlier in the season [33-3] so if we can just focus on our game and work hard defensively we’re looking to come away with maximum points again.

“We want to make sure we can consolidate fourth position and push on.

“London French (third) and Streetonians (first) have both still go to come to Royston so we’re targetting moving up the table by beating them but it means we’ve got to keep up the level we’ve been showing in recent weeks.”