HALESOWEN skipper Richard Brooker is urging his side to bounce back in Saturday’s big home game with Stratford (noon).

Brooker admits it was a weekend to forget for many at the club last week with the first team crashing to Shifnal and slipping to fifth in the table.

Batting first, the firsts were restricted to 87-8 in 33 overs with only Hassan Quami (20) making any significant contribution with the bat.

In reply Shifnal made light work of passing the total after 21 overs, losing only three wickets along the way.

Brooker said: “This was simply one to forget for us, a bad day at the office.

“It wasn’t an easy day to bat with the rain around and coming on and off the field all the time but we just didn’t apply ourselves.

“Every time we resumed batting we gave silly wickets away and the fact that all our dismissals were catches says it all really.

“We’ve now slipped down to fifth in the table and we need to bounce back quickly on Saturday against Stratford – I know we can do it as we have done before when we’ve really needed to step it up this season.”

The second team game was almost a carbon copy as they were bowled out for 114 and Shifnal needed just 24 overs to pass the target.

They’re now ninth and they clearly need some front line seam bowlers back in the side as soon as possible.

One positive from the game was the appearance of 15-year-old Nathan Hines who opened up with the new ball and club officials regard him as one to watch for the future.

The thirds lost at Claverley in a high scoring game with the home side hitting 229-2 – Halesowen were than bowled out for 191.

This Saturday sees the firsts face Stratford at home, the seconds head to Brockhampton, thirds are at home to Hanley Castle with the reverse fixture for the fourths.