Cleveland County will be keen to get back to winning ways when they travel to Southampton Oval tomorrow to face Southampton Rangers in the first round of the Bermuda Cricket Board Knockout Cup.

Clevie Wade’s team suffered their first defeat of the season against Eastern Counties rivals Bailey’s Bay in the Premier Division 50 Overs title decider at North Field, National Sports Centre, last week.

However, the Harris Bay club have quickly put the disappointment behind them and are looking forward to getting the job done against struggling Rangers and advancing to the next round of the competition.

“It’s knockout, so you have one shot at it,” Wade told The Royal Gazette. “The players have been told how important it is to bounce back and stay strong and stay positive.”

The former St George’s and Bermuda all-rounder admits losing to Bay was a bitter pill to swallow in what was his first game in charge as head coach.

“It was a hard loss, but it’s gone and so we are working on our next game,” Wade added. “It didn’t end the way we wanted, but it was a learning experience and there’s still a lot of cricket to be played.”

Cleveland are the firm favourites heading into the match against a side who have yet to win a match this season after a humbling ten-wicket defeat by St David’s last weekend.

Tomorrow’s remaining BCB Knockout Cup first round matches will see Willow Cuts facing Somerset Bridge at Somerset Cricket Club, St George’s hosting Flatts at Wellington Oval while Warwick have been pitted against Western Stars at White Hill Field.

Bay, Somerset and Devionshire Rec have received a bye this weekend and will instead enter the 50 overs competition in the second round.

Action begins today with St David’s hosting the Bermuda Under-19 team at Lord’s.

In the event of a match being rained out or not played, the result will be decided by a coin toss as per competition rules at the venue under the direction of the standing umpires.