A clash between two teams with plenty to play for headlines this weekend’s round of RSL-Whitney Cup action.
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South Dubbo and Maquarie meet at Lady Cutler 2 in a grand final rematch at Lady Cutler 2.
While the two were the sides two beat last summer, this time round they have only won a combined three matches.
Souths scored a dominant win in round one but hasn’t tasted success since while the Blues scored victory in rounds one and two before losing their past four.
“We’re sitting fourth and that’s not tremendous and we’ve only won once so we need to start winning,” Souths’ Adam Wells said.
“You can start to get into a habit and we’ve lost a few close ones so we need to start finding that habit of winning.”
Wells has been the Hornets’ stand-in captain for much of the season, with regular skipper Mitch Bower missing plenty of local cricket due to representative commitments.
Leading all-rounder Will Lindsay has been missing regularly for the same reason but both return to take on the Blues on Saturday.
“It’s been tough having a couple of our best players away but that’s the nature of cricket,” Wells said.
“It’s up to us to do what we need to and a couple haven’t and a couple have really stood up. Justin Knudsen has been really good for us and he’s stood up and is a first grader now.”
Knudsen has impressed with both bat and ball since making the step-up from RSL-Pinnington Cup, where he started the season.
He made a fighting 63 in last week’s seven wicket loss to Rugby and Wells said his standard is something the whole side could follow.
“We’ve had more than enough opportunities with both bat and ball,” he said.
“While in the past we may have left it to John Colwell, Tim Berry or Mitch Bower so it’s up to some of those guys and some of us more experienced guys to stand up.
“We can’t just rely on those big names, it’s a team game.”
While it hasn’t been an ideal start to the season for the Hornets, Wells felt the early struggles could be a positive in the long run.
After being part of the side which finished as runner-up last season, teenagers Henry Railz and Sam Fraser have taken on more responsibility while the likes of Knudsen, keeper Cameron Herd and left-arm seamer Jack Busch have all cemented their spots in the side. That energy, combined with the experience in the side, could be crucial comes finals time.
The Blues have also battled for consistency but the side for Saturday’s match is as close to full strength as possible.
Jeremy Dickson is back to take the new ball, while Wade Burrowes returns to the first grade lineup to further boost the batting lineup.
Play starts at 1pm.