SIMON Finnan believes continuity and consistency is key for Burnley as they attempt to end a run of five successive defeats at Wigton on Saturday.

The Holden Road club made a triumphant return to the North Lancs/Cumbria division following a 10-year absence via the play-offs last season.

Momentum from the memorable 94-0 play-off win over Whitehaven was carried over in to the first day of the new campaign when Burnley returned to the big stage with a 45-14 win over Hawcoat Park.

But since that win on the first weekend of September, Burnley have only tasted defeat - and Finnan knows he has a job to do to keep his players in a positive frame of mind.

“It’s possibly one of the most difficult things for a coach, keeping players positive,” said Finnan. “However, it’s all about making the training enjoyable as no one wants to be bawled at after a full day at work, as at end of day, all these lads are playing the game as a hobby.

“So whatever the results, and we are not far off the victories, the lads need to enjoy what they do.”

Also proving difficult for Finnan is being able to call on the same group of players on a week-to-week basis.

Last season, Burnley used just 26 players as they finished runners-up in Lancashire North. This season they have already used 31 players after just six games.

“I believe as coach, that once I get a settled side on the pitch, the club will be a lot stronger and begin to climb the league,” he added.

“In our promotion winning season, we only used 26 lads across the whole rugby calendar year while this season, after six games, we have already used 31 different lads due to work, injury, illness.

“It’s doesn’t help consistency, especially when you train on a Thursday night with one side then come match day you have changed players before even starting.

“This very rarely happens when you winning.” Finnan said their return to higher league rugby after a decade away hasn’t been a shock to the system - but he says his team need to turn narrow defeats in to wins - Burnley lost by a single point at Aldwinians and by just four at home to Eccles in that losing sequence.

“I would not say it’s been harder than I thought,” he said. “All the lads knew it wasn’t going to be easy and this season was all about consolidation.

“However a couple of the results were a shock as we threw away winnable chances. Fleetwood and Tarleton were too good for us, but other games with a stronger mindset out on the field and game management, the result could have been different.

“But they were not and now the next win is very important and needs to come quick.”

Burnley haven’t been helped by losing several key players - either permanently or to new work shifts - but this has given Finnan a chance to blood a few of the youngsters.

“We have just lost Adam Wallis who played two very good seasons for us but he is now working in the mines of Perth in Australia, so you can’t fault that,” said Finnan.

“Our captain from last year, Tom Ives, has taken a step back from playing and last year’s vice captain, Ash Rothwell, now has to work some Saturdays.

“But that’s just the nature of the beast with amateur sport when lads pay to play the game.

“We have recruited Zane Smith who as slotted into the club and the side very well, and a couple of forward recruitments are around the corner to increase competition for places.”

He added: “But when you see Ayrton Campbell go from the Third team to Firsts purely on strong work ethic at training and a willingness to listen and learn and 18-year-old George Hibbert and Connor Deasey settling in well in the side, that always pleases you.”

Finnan says he has targeted ‘winnable’ games against teams in and around Burnley, who are currently third from bottom, but he says Wigton should not take his team lightly.

“When you lose five games on the bounce, I think it’s very important to win that next game as soon as possible whoever it’s against,” he said.

“Aldwinians at home must be game we must look at as winnable, but also Wigton away on Saturday as they will be expecting an easy game as it’s a long way to travel.

“But we hope, as it’s a coach trip, we will get a good side on the bus!”