SOUTH Woodham Ferrers Rugby Club are enjoying a terrific transformation this season - having gone from relegation survivors to promotion candidates in just a matter of months.

Last term, Woodham were just one place above the drop zone in London Two North East and managed just nine wins in 22 games.

But, this time around, Woodham sit second in the standings with seven victories from eight outings.

And head coach Tony Woods believes plenty of factors have contributed to Woodham’s rapid rise up the table.

“We came back into pre-season really early, it was mid-June and we were worked hard every Tuesday and Thursday so that’s definitely made a difference,” said Woods.

“James Mihill, who owns Effective Exercise in town, did a great job and the boys are really fit now which has helped us win a number of games late on.

“It’s really important at this level and, with the wins we’ve had, morale has also risen.

“That wasn’t the same with our final few games of last season and we’ve had a change of mentality too when the experienced Joe Dukelow told our squad he didn’t just want to do better by finishing just one place higher.

“We all agreed we wanted to be pushing far higher up the table and so far it seems to be going well.”

As a result, Woodham sit six points behind table-topping Diss with two games in hand and looked well placed to build on their impressive start.

Additions to the management structure of the squad have helped to make that happen while new captain Lewis Gilbert has also made a big impression.

And there has also been a change in Woodham’s style.

“We’re moving the ball quicker now,” explained Woods.

“We’re more potent in defence and clinical in attack as well.

“Our forwards work tirelessly to deliver the backs with quick clean ball and have been unstoppable from the rolling maul this season.

“But I’ve always known just what we are capable off.

“This season the small additions and moving a few players around positionally have paid off and winning has now become a habit which we hope carries on for the rest of the season.”

Woodham’s success rate is even more impressive considering problems with their pitch have seen them play just twice at home so far this season.

But that could well work in their favour during the second half of the season.

“After Christmas we have nine home games and two away,” said Woods.

“We have two away games coming up before Christmas which will be tough but if we win them both then we’ll be in a great position.

“I hope we can continue to do ourselves proud. Nobody is mentioning that p word yet (promotion) but I genuinely believe this group can achieve it.”