Skipper Sam Cooke hopes struggling Spalding RFC can use Saturday’s Intermediate Cup clash at Rushden and Higham as a springboard to kick-start their season.
Town, who are bottom of Midlands Two East (North) after three defeats from as many games, are targeting success in the knockout competition this year.
Cooke, who missed Saturday’s heavy loss at Mansfield, feels Spalding need a cup run to galvanise themselves.
He’s hoping to be fit to return and lead his side in Northamptonshire – and wants to see an improvement.
“Last weekend was very difficult,” admitted the captain. “Mansfield away is always difficult, but even more so when you’re missing a lot of players.
“Credit to the young lads that came in, they did themselves proud.
“But the results so far just haven’t been what we’d have hoped.
“It’s been a while since the club have had a good cup run, so we’re certainly targeting one this year.
“It’s just a shame that we’re away again, but that’s the way it goes.
“Hopefully we can use this game as a way to play ourselves into some kind of form.
“We’ve just got to listen to what coach Ben Williams is telling us and apply it on the field.
“A cup run will give us the confidence to kick on and turn our league form around.”
Cooke is one of a number of players taking a fitness test prior to the match at Midlands Two East (South) outfit Rushden and Higham (3pm). But former captain Harry Sharman isn’t likely to be fit to return to the squad.
