A concerted effort to arrest poor form via more intense training has left West Tamworth cocooned in a "good vibe" bubble that reminds their skipper, Shaun Stevenson, of a bygone era at the club.
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On the eve of their two-day minor semi-final against North Tamworth at Riverside 1 this weekend, Wests are a changed team. Gone is the uninspired mob who won two of their first nine game - replaced by an emergised outfit who surged up the ladder and into the finals after four straight wins.
The winning streak started with a Twenty20 defeat of Norths on January 12, with the Redbacks also the latest victim: a first-innings loss at Riverside 1 last Saturday.
The form reversal coincided with the better training attitude, the arrival of opening bowlers Cameron Reeves and Elliot Bowen and two match-winning innings by the swashbuckling Harrison Kelly.
In his first season in charge, Stevenson said "everyone is pretty relaxed and just really looking forward" to the finals.
"We had struggled through the one-dayers and the Twenty20s and we realised that we had to win to be a chance of making the finals," he said, adding that "a lot of individuals" in the team said "we should just do it [work harder]".
"I think a lot of people were just up for the fight ... Everyone wants to play finals cricket and win the comp."
"Like we've been saying, we're finding the momentum at the right time of the year," he added.
"The team's just gelled really well. There's a good vibe around the boys at the moment - everyone's just getting on."
The atmosphere, Stevenson added, was reminiscent of the "old days" when he first arrived at the club.
