IT was not a pretty sight for Wauchope RSL last Saturday, but the best news for them is they get a chance to improve.
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RSL lost seven wickets for the addition of just five runs to their total to suffer an outright defeat to Macquarie Hotel.
Captain Matt Day has again challenged his side ahead of their clash with Port Pirates at Andrews Park on Saturday.
“Two guys were standouts for us last week, but the rest of us had no respect for our wicket,” Day said.
“No one wanted to do the hard yards; it was not pretty.”
Pirates have suffered their own batting troubles of late.
They were rolled for 58 and then stumbled to 8-108 at the close of play against Port City Leagues Magpies last week.
Day tried not to place an emphasis on Pirates own struggles.
“Our main focus is doing the small things right because they are an okay side who are currently second,” he said.
“We need to show some batting application and bat some time.”
The Wauchope skipper singled out Jack Connolly as a wicket his side would look to claim cheaply.
“Jack has impressed me immensely and he’ll be a big wicket for us,” he said.
Ethan McKenna and Dan Morrison are both out for the next few weeks which means Day will have to call on his second grade side.
“We’ll have to use our depth this week because there’s a couple who are out, but I know a lot of the boys from last week are pretty hurt and looking for an improved effort.”
At Laurieton Oval, Macquarie Hotel will look to continue their undefeated start to the season when they clash with the ever-improving Port City Leagues Magpies.
Macquarie rattled through Wauchope RSL last week, but Leagues showed a bit of fight for captain Kyle Bray in their first-innings defeat of Port Pirates.
Bray, along with Tim Harris, led the way last week and the captain will hope for continued improvement against the competition favourites.
“It doesn’t get any easier for us,” Bray said.
“Macca are a good side and they’ll be a good challenge.”
They key to a positive performance was with the bat and Bray wanted his team to show the same fight as they have shown over the last two weeks.
“You don’t want to lose wickets in clumps,” he said.
“Hopefully we’ve turned the corner for good and not just for one game.”
Bray said he would look to Dylan Lewis and Phil McVicar to contribute with the bat and leg-spinner Zac Jones with the ball.
“Phil batted well in the second innings and Zac bowled very well last week; I think he’ll go well against the Macca.”