Belief vital for Werneth

CRICKET: CONFIDENCE in sport is everything.

A lack of confidence can manifest itself in a failure to cross the winning line when victory seems easier than defeat — a trap Werneth fell into at Heywood last weekend, their season in desperate need of a dramatic U-turn.

Having posted 182 for seven and reduced Heywood to 80 for eight, a first victory of the season seemed inevitable. But as Heywood started to erode Werneth’s advantage, doubt crept in and confidence ebbed away. Heywood’s recovery had a sense of inevitability about it.

The hosts crossed the line with a wicket to spare and a 2014 Werneth campaign that was already bad got a lot worse.

All of this is happening in the club’s 150th anniversary season, so if the side wants to remember it as a celebration rather than a disappointment, things have to change pretty quickly.

Adding to Werneth’s problems is tomorrow’s game at Norden - the Premier Division leaders, yet to taste defeat. Realistically, Werneth will start as significant underdogs. But the Coppice outfit has nothing to lose...

That attitude also applies to Oldham, who face similarly-unbeaten opposition in Monton and Weaste in the Championship. Tomorrow’s match at the Pollards is one the visitors will expect to win, but Oldham are enjoying a revival with three wins from four matches. The green shoots of recovery are definitely in place.

Fellow Championship side Crompton had a double dose of the blues last weekend so a home win against Middleton is essential for flagging morale.

And that’s the case for Premier Division outfit Royton, too. They host Clifton – whom they have already beaten twice this season – and even without suspended skipper Denny Hulme and Alan Durose they will fancy their chances.