JAMES Underhill believes Northwich are improving each week, a view they reinforced during an emphatic win against Manchester on Saturday.

He kicked conversions for six of Blacks’ nine tries in a 59-19 thrashing of Manchester.

“We want to make a statement,” the centre said before kick off at Moss Farm.

“We’ve gradually got better, but we’re adjusting to a new game-plan and it’s taking time to get used to.

“Injuries haven’t helped, and the line-up has been constantly changing.

“But we know we can’t lose many more games – we all look at the league table.”

Blacks climbed to sixth following a third successive home win.

They go in search of a fist victory on the road at third-placed New Brighton this weekend, kick off 3pm.

Underhill told the Guardian that director of rugby Martin Poste, appointed in the summer, has worked on making Northwich less predictable.

He added: “We’re trying to dominate in the scum, perhaps sacrificing a bit in the open.

“Martin didn’t want to throw our playbook out of the window, but we do need a Plan B.

“The team has changed a lot as a result; we’ve got the biggest forward pack I can remember in my time here.

“But it’s good to have another option if we can’t chuck the ball out wide. Now we can do something different.”

And Underhill says his side believe they can catch pacesetters West Park, who they trail by nine points after six matches.

“We’ll go game by game for now, but I’ve not seen a side yet that’s better than we are,” he said.