Cleveland County are reaping the benefits of a new approach and fresh belief that has been instilled in their players.

The Harris Bay club completed their most successful weekend of the season when they reclaimed the Eastern Counties Cup and clinched the One 50 First Division title — and with it the automatic promotion spot — inside of 24 hours.

“It’s wonderful and a feeling I thought I would never be able to feel in cricket, winning two titles like that back-to-back,” Curtis Jackson, the team’s coach, said. “Especially as a player from Cleveland to come back and win as a coach for the club, which is an accomplishment in itself.”

Cleveland beat Eastern Counties holders Bailey’s Bay by 65 runs at Sea Breeze Oval on Saturday to reclaim the prestigious trophy.

“I thought the players handled themselves very well,” said Jackson, who is in his first season as coach of Cleveland.

“I didn’t have anything huge to worry about, as long as they stayed together and played — and that’s exactly what they did. They went along according to the team plan and it worked out perfectly.”

Despite being dismissed for 157 in the first innings after being sent in to bat, Jackson said he had “no doubts at all” that his players would still get the job done.

“I knew if we got a good total to defend, we can defend it and the plan was to get around 180-220 and declare regardless,” he said. “We knew the odds were against us, but we also knew that we are solid and don’t give up.

“Our bowling and our fielding are what has carried us, and of late we have started batting well, so I had no worries at all.”

Cleveland produced an awesome display in the field to dismiss a respected Bay batting line-up for a paltry 92.

“I thought we bowled well and fielded well against Bay,” Jackson said.

“We held on to our catches and that’s what wins matches. We didn’t drop any catches.

“I always tell my players when you have them by the throat, keep them by the throat — and don’t let them up, and that’s exactly what we did. Winning the Eastern Counties was overwhelming for myself, my assistant coach, Jason Simons, and my team.”

Jackson and his players then achieved their primary objective for the season after thrashing PHC by 213 runs at Wellington Oval to clinch the First Division title.

“In the past, all Cleveland has played for is Eastern Counties, but there is more cricket than just Counties,” Jackson said. “So my main objective was to change our goals and change our perspective, and try to play for promotion first and worry about Counties on the day.

“We just took each game up until Counties and then when Counties came, all of our focus was on that day and we prevailed.

“I know what it takes to win trophies, having won many when I was playing for Southampton Rangers under two good coaches in Clevie Wade and Ricky Brangman.

“So I just had to instil in my players that we can compete with any team as long as we believe that we can.”

Cleveland have gone unbeaten since June 10, when they suffered a two-wicket defeat by Somerset Bridge at White Hill Field. It was the club’s second successive loss, having also been beaten by Willow Cuts the previous weekend.

“After we lost those two games on back-to-back weekends, we just bounced back,” Jackson said. “We have won every game since and that just shows the commitment of the team.”