MICHAEL Farley will bid to put his own stamp on the team when he takes the reins for his first matches as Radcliffe captain this weekend.

The club face a double-header, taking on Astley and Tyldesley’s second team in Division Three of the Greater Manchester League on Saturday before entertaining Division Two high-flyers Thornham in the first round of the Championship Cup on Sunday.

Radcliffe go into the games on the back of a five-wicket defeat at home to Denton West seconds which left them in eighth place in a division Farley believes they can be competitive in.

They were always up against it after finishing on 90-8 from their 23 overs in a match affected by rain.

“Once again at the weekend we let ourselves down with the bat,” said Farley, who was on holiday and missed the game.

“We are bowling and fielding really well, but just can’t quite get the runs on the board.

“It is not down to a lack of talent – we have some great batsmen like Dean Bowman and Martyn Coates who are capable of scoring heavily in this division.

“I think it is a mental block. As a batsman, I intend to lead from the front and I expect other players to follow.

“It is my job to translate the unity we have built up off the field into a unified effort on the pitch.

“We have worked hard to create a social scene at the club over the winter. Those bonds we have created are the same bonds we need to see at the crease, with players backing each other up.

“If I can use my leadership to grow that kind of mentality then I think our results will start to turn.”