Andy Pratt tried to remain positive despite Canterbury Rugby Club’s early-season optimism being tempered by ‘devastating’ injury news.

Not only did the city club lose influential full-back Martyn Beaumont and centre Brook Cowan in the first half of their National 2 South opener at Clifton on Saturday but promising wing Kwaku Asiedu has been ruled out of the season with a knee injury picked up late in the pre-season clash with Blackheath.

Pratt said: “It’s pretty devastating. He (Kwaku) was looking fantastic for us and he got injured at the end of possibly his best game.

“He’s looking at a year out and although he’s young and I’m sure he’ll come back stronger from this, we’ve got to try and get him to keep his head up right now.

“We want to keep him around the squad and I’m sure (lock) Tom Burns, who has come back from knee reconstruction, will be having a chat with him.”

Pratt added: “It’s another blow for us and we can’t afford many but we have other good wings at the club and they’ll get their chance.”

Canterbury host Old Elthamians at Merton Lane on Saturday but will be without Beaumont (concussion) iwho faces three weeks on the sidelines.Kiwi Mason Rosvall could however make his debut after a knee problem.

Pratt said: “They have a lot of cash and we can’t take anything for granted, even though we are at home where we are proud of our record.

“We can’t afford to make the same mistakes as we did last week. This is one visiting team who are not going to be getting off the coach all sleepy.”