Strathmore second XV 47 Rosyth Sharks 22, Caledonia Midlands Region League, Division Three

ROSYTH SHARKS head coach Mark Love believes that they can look forward to next season with optimism after concluding a campaign he described as "positive".

The Harley Street side completed their Caledonia Midlands Region League, Division Three, fixtures at Strathmore second XV on Saturday, losing out by a 47-22 scoreline.

Despite the loss, Sharks came home from Forfar with a bonus point after scoring four tries during the 80 minutes, and have finished fourth in the table, two places behind their opponents.

They've won nine of their 14 fixtures, an increase on last season, and Love, who himself played in part of the final match due to a depleted squad, told Press Sport: "We didn't get the result we were after, but the guys stuck at it.

"We went up there with a reasonable squad, although not our strongest, and we scored four tries and took a bonus point away from it. We came away with something and didn't do ourselves any shame.

Dunfermline Press: Rosyth Sharks finished fourth in the table.Rosyth Sharks finished fourth in the table. (Image: David Wardle.)

"We scored points off structures that we've been working on. If we had a more regular team out, it possibly could've been a closer scoreline. As much as there was a big difference in the score, there wasn't as big a difference in the play. I didn't think it was a 20-point game."

He continued: "We finished fourth. We were hoping for third, but there were a couple of results earlier in the season that never went our way which, maybe now, we wouldn't have lost that would've made the difference.

"We're making steps forward. We've gone from sitting bottom and struggling to put a team together to being in the top half.

"The season as a whole has been positive. I hope the guys can see that, come back and build towards going again and getting better next season.

"We had five wins last season and we've had nine wins this season. Some of the figures tell the story; we've made big leaps forward.

"The points between us and second (second-placed Strathmore finished nine points ahead of Rosyth) has been pretty close - a win and a loss either way. Between us and the teams below, we're a bit ahead of them.

"The fact we've been so close gives the guys something to aim for."