Round 8 ...The Christmas break over and everyone back into the action. Although there were some less than impressive fielding displays, all three teams managed to bring home the bacon.
The Firsts put in, what was their worst fielding performance for 4 seasons. Grassing many chances and providing many free runs with inaccurate bowling and slack fielding. At times you could hear the circus music playing in the background.
For this team to go any further, every individual needs to apply themselves much, much more than what is currently being done. It was embarassing to be involved in the game. The lack of application to the motto "come to play" was cleary evident for all to see.
Once again the bulk of the run scoring was left to Robbo after the top order collapsed after offering little or no resistance to a popgun attack. Although victory was attained, I am sure that there are plenty of headaches for the Coaching Staff and Team Leaders after that game.
An apt motto for the remainder of the season would be "Come together as a Team or Die as Individuals"
The seconds managed to dominate their game in spectacular style, with the "Twin Run Machines" back in form. Paul Herbert just missed out on a second century after his previous couple of failures and Paul Cambasis picked up a handy 44 to edge ever closer to the 500 runs for the season barrier.
The seconds are travelling along very nicely and should be in a good position to challenge for a victory in the finals. Their batting depth looks to be excellent and their bowling is not far short of that mark.
Their goals from here on in would be to settle a line up and string some solid performces together before the Finals arrive.
The Thirds received a "Golden Gift" from the Barkly St Gold team after their forfeiture of the result. We looked to be struggling to cobble together the required numbers and it was a very mixed bag of "not sure if he is available" and "he might like a game" names that went down on the team sheet at the selection table.
However the forfeit was exactly the tonic required for the thirds after suffering some close losses in the first half of the season. Their goal from now to the end of the season is to win more than they lose and finals action may be theirs......