WHEN results are not going your way on the pitch, it is important to make sure you keep the dressing room together.

You can do all the practice in the world, but sometimes you need to take a step back and have a day when everyone is smiling.

So Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes took his players to Cow Lane Activities for a day featuring clay pigeon shooting and fly fishing.

“It was a great day,” said County all-rounder Gareth Andrew.

“The fishing took me back to my childhood.

“Neil Pinner turned out to be a bit of a sharp-shooter and I think a lot of the lads have now got a new hobby in fishing.”

Days like the one Worcestershire had last Wednesday can be vital in keeping the team’s morale and spirits up over a long and difficult season.

The New Road side’s team spirit played an important part in helping them to promotion last year and you never know — it may just help turn this testing campaign around.

There are no illusions at the County over how hard this season is — maybe they came up a year too soon — but, if they stick together and play with a smile and some fight, then they will undoubtedly come back stronger.