WARRINGTON RUFC will start the new year aiming to build on their improved form in December.

The only game Andy Roberts’ side lost last month was the one-point home reverse to a Northwich side doing everything they can to hang on to the coattails of leading sides Kirkby Lonsdale and Birkenhead Park.

Victories over Burnage, 17-10, and Rochdale, 28-23, sees the Walton Lea Road men sees them start 2017 in seventh position on the RFU North One West ladder, resulting from six wins out of 15 games so far.

A fourth successive home game faces them on Saturday, January 7, when ninth-placed St Benedicts will be the visitors.

With a trip to high-flying Kirkby to come a week later, Roberts will be wanting for his side to continue the improvements they have shown in defence following much focus on that area of their game in training.

As it stands, the 440 points they have leaked so far - at an average of 29.3 per game - is a worse record than bottom club Eccles, who have won only once so far this term and will be visiting Walton Lea Road at the end of the month.