It’s must-win time.
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Macquarie currently sits just two points outside the RSL-Whitney Cup top three but with just three rounds of two-day cricket remaining, captain Keiran Brien knows his side can’t afford any mistakes.
The Blues have fallen in a slump and have fallen well off the pace after failing to win in the past six rounds.
Brien says there’s no simple solution heading into this round’s clash with ladder-leaders Rugby, it’s just a case of everyone needing to be better.
“We struggled to get the same team on the park a bit before Christmas, but so did every side so that’s not an excuse,” he said.
“We’ve just gone out there and expected to win and you can’t do that. We’ve got to fix up the attitude.
“It’s definitely a must win. We’re right under the pump and if we lose this then we’re going to be relying on other sides winning for us.”
We’ve just gone out there and expected to win and you can’t do that.
- Macquarie captain Keiran Brien
The Blues have made the finals the past two seasons, enjoying a drought-breaking premiership win in 2015/16, but with two of the three remaining matches against sides currently sitting in the top two it will take some effort to make it again.
Rugby sits seven points clear at the top of the ladder this season and with a roster featuring in-form players like Ben Patterson, Ben Taylor and James O’Brien as well as captain Nathan Munro, Aidan Bennewith and NSW Country gun Jordan Moran, Brien said they deserve their spot.
All those players will be in action for Rugby this round while Macquarie has also named one of its strongest squads of the season.
Brien said the Blues have opted to put a focus on batting and then leave the bowling to seam trio Angus Cusack, Jeremy Dickson and James Hughes and spinners Dan and Rick Medway.
“We’ve gone for a bit of a batting lineup now it’s two-day cricket,” Brien said.
“It’s the strongest side we could have so we’re staying positive.”
The batting has been relatively strong for the Blues all season and proof of that is the fact three of the competition’s top four leading run-scorers are from Macquarie.
CYMS’ Brock Larance is well clear at the top with 507 runs but he is followed by Jason Green, Dan Medway and Ed Haylock.
Those three will all be key in Saturday’s match at Lady Cutler 2 but even more important is the Blues’ attack, which will be asked to dismiss Rugby’s talent-stacked lineup.
Saturday’s match at Lady Cutler 2 starts at 1pm.
The return of two-day cricket sees 75 overs of play in a day.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
