After starting the Mid North Coast Premier Cricket League season encouragingly, the Magpies have now registered just one win since the end of November to slip down the table.

Port City lost the toss and unsurprisingly were sent in to bat where they compiled 7-131 off their 38 overs.

The rain then came and the covers went on for an hour and a half before Taree West were set a revised total of 98 to win off 28 overs.

They they chased it down in 17.

The Magpies are now seventh and captain Gordon Scott knows they must win their remaining matches to give themselves a chance of qualifying for the finals.

The performance of talented youngster Charles Adnum provided some positivity for the team and again showed why the captain rates him highly.

“He scored an unbeaten half century and along with Koby Smith they put on 57 together which was the most well-controlled performance with the bat I have seen in quite a while,” Scott said.

“Our batting performance improved dramatically on the last couple of weeks.”

Scott said the outcome of the toss had a significant impact on the outcome of the game.

“I don’t usually like to blame the outcome of the toss for a loss, but if you bowled first on that deck you had a massive advantage,” he said.

“I copped a whack on the thumb off a good length ball; it was really tough to bat out there.

“The cricket Gods are just against us at the moment, but I think we showed signs that we’re turning the corner.

“We were a lot better this game.”