DEFEATED Church star Sam Tucker believes he and his team-mates can bounce back stronger after suffering the deflating experience of Worsley Cup final pain.

The West Enders went down by six wickets to Ramsbottom in Sunday’s showpiece and Tucker admitted the mood was sombre.

And he said: “We thought it was going to be our day but Ramsbottom were the better team.

“I think because they beat us so easily we can get over the loss. If it is a close run thing you wonder what might have been, you look back on little things that changed the match.

“We couldn’t do that because Ramsbottom won so easily.

“It is not an excuse but the preparations were hindered with the rain and the late start. People had worked so hard to get the ground looking great for the final and then the weather takes the gloss off things.

“We’ll have to try and get there again and do better.”

Tucker will bow out from his only club at the end of the season as he goes to work in Dubai – and travelling from the Gulf State almost cost the wicketkeeper a place in the dream final.

A pair of sandals caused a blister on his foot and on the plane his foot swelled to twice its normal size.

He was given crutches to get through customs.

“I was at hospital on Saturday and I was fearing the worst,” he said. “But they gave me antibiotics and the swelling went down and I got through the game.”