WESTCLIFF'S head coach Jimmy Rea was left frustrated following his side's 32-21 defeat to Hertford at the Gables.

The defeat kept Westcliff at the foot of the Regional One South East standings.

And Rea now feels it is crunch time for his team.

“Saturday was another hard day,” said Rea.

“Once again we scored three good tries but left the pitch without a point on the league board.

“We are at crunch time once again.

“The lads have the ability, which has been proved in lots of games this season, they just lack the belief.

“Winning is a habit, as is losing, but it’s the mindset that is still the issue.

“To get what you have never had you need to do what you have never done.

“That means getting to training earlier, putting in the extra effort in training and working on the skills you lack after training as well as doing things away from the club too.

“As coaches we have maybe four to five hours to improve a team a week, but as individuals there is a lot more time available.

“It takes a long time to change a mindset and, after three years of losses, this is no easy fix."

But Rea remains committed to turning things around.

“I intend to still be here next season no matter what happens," he added.

Westcliff remain five points behind second from bottom Rochford Hundred and are 19 points behind 10th placed Bedford Athletic with three games to go.