HARPENDEN skipper Ben Frazer has backed his side to bounce back from last weekend s defeat to Hertford. Last Saturday s defeat was the team s first league defeat of the season and Frazer is backing his side to return to form on Saturday when North Mymms

HARPENDEN skipper Ben Frazer has backed his side to bounce back from last weekend's defeat to Hertford.

Last Saturday's defeat was the team's first league defeat of the season and Frazer is backing his side to return to form on Saturday when North Mymms visit the Common.

It's a good test for the boys," Frazer told the Herts Advertiser. "It's all well and good for us to be winning every week, and turning up a you feel a million dollars because you stuff sides all year so it'll be interesting to see how they come back from this.

"A loss like that will hopefully sharpen them up but there's nothing drastic - we've still got seven wins out of nine, we're still top of the league tonight and we're still a win away (from the nearest challengers). I'd rather be in our position than in the others.

"I'm pretty sure, having just sat with them, that there are a lot of unhappy boys there who want to come back and hit North Mymms hard."

Frazer believes his side let Hertford score 40 runs more than they should have but was disappointed that the team's batting line up were unable to chase the score down.

"I think we let them get 40 too many runs and that puts that little bit of pressure on you.

He added: "Out there on that wicket and with that outfield chasing 250 shouldn't have been to much trouble and we've done it before this season but not a lot of the boys have had time in the middle this year. But there's no excuses, Hertford were the better team."

Despite the reversal last weekend Harpenden are still clear leaders in Home Counties Premier League Division Two (East) and Frazer is pleased with his team's form so far this season.

"If you'd said at the start of the season, after nine games we'd be top and a win clear having won seven of your first nine any side in the league would have taken that so yeah I'm happy - it's been a good start from us.