Like a seamer measuring his run up again because of an errant front foot, coach Dale Smidt is taking stock of how he will employ motivational ammunition to fuel his premier club cricketers before games in the changing room on Saturdays.
"We can play really well today to take a lot of confidence into Sunday or play really poorly and have a good look at ourselves in the mirror the next day," Smidt had told Big Barrel Napier Technical Old Boys (NTOB).
NTOB took the second option, receiving a flogging at the hands of Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall in the 50-over match at Nelson Park but, thankfully, captain Liam Rukwai and his men turned up the next morning to beat Bayleys Real Estate Havelock North by six wickets to become the Hawke's Bay champions for the NZ Club Championship.
The Texans, who finished third at the nationals last summer, now play Greytown on Sunday, January 22, at Nelson Park to see who progresses to Palmerston North during Waitangi Day weekend against other CD district qualifiers to make the cut for Auckland to play other top association qualifiers.
"We were lucky because I was able to call on [Jeremy] Kuru and Stevie [Smidt] so it was good to have some experienced heads in the side, I suppose," said Smidt after the villagers won the toss but were skittled for 133 runs.