FRINTON Cricket Club captain Sam Brynes has urged his players to hold their nerve and rise to the occasion as they strive to avoid relegation this weekend.

The club’s second team are hovering precariously just above the relegation trapdoor heading into the final weekend of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship season.

They are third from bottom – three points above Hadleigh and eight behind neighbours Mistley – heading into Saturday’s fixture at Coggeshall.

The bottom two are set to go down and that number could rise to three, depending on permutations within other leagues.

For now, though, Brynes wants his side to control the controllable and get the points they need at Hare Field on Saturday.

“I’m feeling pretty confident,” he told the Gazette.

“It’s a cup final for us and hopefully all the boys will turn up with the right mindset, ready to do what’s needed to get the points.

“Other teams can help us out, obviously, but it’s down to us and we have to concentrate on winning our game.

“It’s going to be a tough one against Coggeshall.

“We managed to beat them at home earlier in the season but I know they had three or four key players missing.

“If they’re full-strength, we know it’s going to be difficult but I believe in our group of players.

“On our day, we’re good enough to beat anyone in the division and, in a way, I’m surprised we’re so low in the table.

“In terms of talent, we should be higher but the big issue we’ve faced throughout the season has been availability.

“I don’t think we’ve had the same side two weeks in a row and it’s been very unsettling and hard to build momentum.”

After back-to-back wins, Frinton suffered a costly defeat at fellow strugglers Hadleigh last weekend, losing by 74 runs.

After winning the toss and choosing to field, the Suffolk side finished on 212 for eight after 40 overs.

Captain Brynes took four wickets for 47 runs in nine overs and Harry Nightingale returned two for 44.

There were also wickets for James Baker and Nick Patel.

However, in reply, Frinton were all out for 138, with the bulk of their runs coming from openers Tom Sinclair (41) and Joe Fowler (22).

“I don’t care how I do, as long as the team wins,” added Australian Brynes.

“Losing last week was a blow but we just have to put it out of our heads.

“We can’t do anything about it now and need to stay focused on the task in hand.

“We’re going into the match with a very strong side and it’s important for the club that we avoid relegation.

“We’ve got some talented youngsters coming through, with others looking to join, and our third team are very much on the up, so I believe we’ll be stronger next season.”