Former Great Britain Paralympic duo and Solent Sharks teammates Aaron Phipps and Myles Pearson have praised the work rate of their team after an unbeaten weekend in the opening round of the Wheelchair Rugby Super Series.

The Sharks sit comfortably at the top of Division Two after winning all five of their league games at Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke-on-Trent, writes Nathaniel Holland.

Pearson, 21, was quick to acknowledge the work of his side following the end of a successful weekend.

He said: “The whole team are playing well, the individuals have all stepped up and are showing great promise.

“It isn’t about Aaron [Phipps] and me, it is about the other players.

“Players like Patrick Asher-Relf are coming into their own. He is an up and coming player and he has definitely shown that over the weekend.”

Asher-Relf, who is only 18, crowned a successful weekend by picking up the award for best in the 2.5 category.

And such is the team’s progress, Pearson, who was the youngest player in the GB team at the 2012 Paralympic Games, has his eyes on promotion in April.

The Solent University student said: “Promotion is the main aim this season, not only for our own egos but for the university, who have backed the team.

“I am looking to go to the Rio Games in 2016 and potentially getting promoted to Division One in the Super Series is a positive step in the right direction.”

Phipps added: “It has been a really good weekend and, as Myles has said, watching the new guys shine has been just incredible.” Sharks, coached by Gary Banks, beat Westcountry Hawks (69-18) and South Wales Pirates (61-26) before having to face their Solent second side, the Hammerheads.

Ricky Goddard’s Hammerheads were in high spirits leading into the game, having already won their opening match 40-32 against a Caledonian Crushers side that could only field four players with no substitutions.

But it was the Sharks who continued their impressive start to the new league campaign with a comfortable 52-23 victory. The Hammerheads went on to lose their final game of the day 51-26 to the Pirates, led by another player from the 2012 GB squad, David Anthony.

Banks’ Sharks came up against their toughest opponent of the weekend on the second day of action, the North East Bulls, who had also won their opening three games.

But a spirited Solent let their class show with a 55-41 victory to give themselves breathing space at the top of the table. The Sharks ended the day with a 46-21 win against the Crushers to leave them top of the table ahead of the second round of fixtures, which will take place in February 2015.

Sunday was a day to forget for the Hammerheads, who couldn’t build on their only victory. They lost against the Bulls (53-19) and the Hawks (52-27).