DAVE KENNEDY insists that there is no need for Northop Hall to panic - but knows his young side need to be more resilient.

The Flintshire outfit suffered a 131-run defeat to fellow Liverpool Competition Division One new boys Old Xaverians last weekend.

Having worked hard with the ball and in the field to bowl their hosts out for 225, Hall, led by Michael Barnes, failed to show the same application with the bat as they were skittled for 94.

The failings are obvious, but director of cricket Kennedy is remaining calm, saying: “You get these types of defeats a couple of times a season, and although it’s not great to suffer one in the first game, there is no need to panic.

“There were positives to take. We bowled really well, everyone stuck to the task and the fielding was good.”

But Kennedy has been in the game long enough to know the batting must improve.

“We played some loose shots and showed our inexperience.

“Myself and Mike had a word with the players after the game and told them that we need to be harder to beat.

“We simply have to bat better. If the bowler gets you with a good ball there is nothing you can do, but we’ve got to show some resilience and not give wickets away. It’s about learning quickly in a tough division, but we’ve got good players.”

Alex Smith returns to add experience to the Hall top order for todays’s trip to Sefton Park, although Ed Parry, Carwyn Johnson and Ben Slater could miss out along with overseas spinner Enamul Haque, who arrives in Wales next weekend.

Hall Seconds host Parkfield Liscard second string tomorrow and the fourth XI face Alder Fourths on Sunday.