CONFIDENCE is a funny thing in sport... you either have it or you don't.
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When you do you have to take full toll and ride the rollercoaster for as long as you can.
Port Macquarie Pirates' teen sensations Jared Humphreys and Connor Cook are brimming with it as Port City Leagues Magpies found out first-hand on Saturday.
Humphreys (71 not out and 2-15 off three overs) along with Cook (44 and 6-22 off 6.5 overs) played integral roles as Pirates belted the Magpies by 106 runs.
Their imposing 7-222 off 40 overs proved far too difficult to chase down and enabled them to move into the Mid North Coast Premier Cricket League top four.
Team manager Gary Humphreys said it was a near-faultless performance and arguably their best since the competition's inception.
"We batted extremely well, bowled really well and the fielding was exceptional so I'd say it was one of our best Premier League performances since it started," he said.
It's a confidence thing; they're just playing so well together.
- Gary Humphreys
When asked how the talented duo continued to deliver consistent performances every week, Humphreys said they simply knew their games.
"It's a confidence thing; they're just playing so well together and they've had a couple of really good partnerships which become so important in winning games," he said.
They combined for another 50-run partnership - this time a 71-run fourth-wicket stand that ultimately took the game away from the Magpies.
"They just back themselves; they know when to push hard and they know when to hold," Humphreys said.
"The biggest thing that comes with their game is patience and it doesn't worry them if they get hit for a couple of fours or if they face a maiden.
"In previous years - and it's the same with any young player - they get frustrated really quickly whereas those two have learned to be patient with their shot selection."
It wasn't just with bat in hand that Cook made a difference on the match.
It's a really critical win just to get some momentum and confidence for the team.
- Gary Humphreys
"He just gave them nothing (with his bowling) and his captaincy was outstanding," Humphreys said.
"We bowled to our plans, set really good fields and gave them nothing.
"They're all things we've been training really hard for so it's nice when it all comes together."
The victory could be the catalyst for Pirates to make a late-season charge into a potential top two finish.
"Magpies have got a reasonable bowling attack and we took care of that pretty easily," Humphreys said.
"It's a really critical win just to get some momentum and confidence for the team."
Meanwhile, Wauchope RSL kept their finals flame flickering with a comprehensive 108-run win over Taree West at Andrews Park.
West were cruising at 2-94 in pursuit of 242 before Ethan McKenna claimed the vital wicket of Josh McLeod (54) to spark a collapse.
They lost their final eight wickets for 39 runs to be all out for 133 in the 31st over.
Riley Mallyon (3-7 off three overs) was the pick of the Wauchope bowlers.
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