WAUCHOPE RSL captain Matt Day won’t throw in the towel, but he admits his team is “in a bit of trouble”.
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If they have any hope of featuring in the Mid North Coast Premier Cricket League finals, they simply must beat Port City Leagues Magpies on Saturday.
Currently 10 points out of fourth position, wins in all of their remaining matches still may not be enough.
“If we win all our remaining matches we’re an outside chance, but you’re always in trouble when you rely on other results,” Day said.
“It is on our own bat that we’re in the position we’re in.”
Two no results against Port Pirates haven’t helped their cause and Day said a few close losses throughout the year could also come back to haunt them.
“There are games where we haven’t quite gotten over the line,” he said.
“We’ve also had a few things go against us with two washouts, but we haven’t been good enough so far this year either.
“We’ve been a bit hot and cold and haven’t had a bad season but it’s been good to blood some of the young guys.”
Day admitted matches between Port City and his side always had a bit of added spice and he had taken note of Port City captain Gordon Scott’s comments last week.
“Port City are a team we always love to play against and beat, so we’ll be up for it this weekend,” he said.
“We’d love nothing more than to pull the rug out from under them.”
Opening batsman Nathan Lyon is still out injured, but Day will have the added bonus of a returning Tony Brown.
“Nathan is still a week away and Josh King is out, but Tony Brown is back,” he said.
“He’ll be good for us to have in the bowling attack because he benefits from Matty Miller’s tight bowling at the top of the innings.”
At Oxley Oval, Port Pirates face a mammoth task in the form of Macquarie Hotel.
It is on our own bat that we’re in the position we’re in.
- Wauchope RSL captain Matt Day
The Macca currently lead the competition and appear to be set for the finals, but captain Josh Hyde remained wary of the winless Pirates.
“I think they’ve probably underachieved a bit this year,” he said.
“A lot of people don’t see it that way, but they certainly have the talent there in Connor Cook and Jared Humphreys who can win games on their own.”
Pirates scored 130 in the May Kelly Cup the last time the two teams met and as a result Hyde didn’t believe his side would be complacent.
“I don’t think anyone from our team will take this game lightly.”
