Confident Sam Cooke wants Spalding RFC to sign off 2015 in style this Saturday with a big bonus-point victory against basement boys Bakewell Mannerians (2.15pm).
Town are aiming to make it back-to-back wins in Midlands Two East (North) for the first time this season, having seen last Saturday’s trip to Ashbourne postponed.
Having beating league leaders Stamford the previous week, captain Cooke is expecting his charges to pick up where they left off – and propel themselves into the safety of mid-table.
“It has got to be a bonus-point victory this week,” said the skipper. “Bakewell are bottom and we know they don’t travel well.
“I’ve always said that I want our ground to be a fortress – and I’m expecting a similar performance to the one we produced against Stamford.
“We’ve got a fantastic festive day planned at the club, so it’s important that we deliver a performance.
“I’ll keep saying it, mid-table was always our aim. If we can win on Saturday, we’ve got some good home games coming up in the new year.
“Winning on Saturday will set us up perfectly to start climbing the table.”
Saturday’s visitors Bakewell have only won once this season, but that was way back on September 19. They are just four points behind Town – and a win would likely see Cooke’s side spend Christmas at the foot of the table.
But the skipper insists that everybody at the club was buoyed by the derby win over Stamford and a that new air of confidence is flowing through the squad.
Cooke also has the best kind of selection headache, with Harry Harrison, Ash Piccaver, George Brown, Rob Lucas and Tim Waltham all fit to return to the squad.
He added: “Despite our form this season, I still feel nobody can match us at this level when we approach a game properly.
“All I’ve asked of the lads is to show heart, determination and passion.
“I saw that in the last game – and am expecting to see it again.
“We’ve got a very talented group available for the game and it’s going to be a tough to pick a team. But that’s a good problem to have.”
After the Bakewell game, Town’s next scheduled fixture is trip to Dronfield on January 9.
