CRICKET: RSL Colts want to avenge its nightmare end to last season

RSL Colts president Brad Cox said the first-grade side is aiming to play in the finals this season and a win in the opening game of the season would be handy.

“I hope we can play finals, last year was the first time we’ve missed the finals since 1998,” he said.

“We were not too far off last year, in the last game we had to chase 330 runs to win and we made 300, so the difference between playing in finals and not last year for us was 30 runs. 

“We want to be back in the final this year for sure.”

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The Colts won’t be horsing around this season when it comes to winning games according to the club president.

“Last season we probably weren't committed enough, we lost a lot of close games that in previous years we would have won,” he said.

“I think our attitude wasn't quite right last year and we’ve worked on that, this season will bring a serious change in outlook for us.

“Everyone at the club has commented that they don’t want a year like last year, so I am confident this season will bring a change in attitude.”

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The 2018/19 season may present some challenges for the Colts, but the club president won’t make any excuses if things don’t go well this summer.

“We are a bit short of players to choose from due to school holidays and other life issues at the moment, and Greg Buckley is still on suspension, but we will make a good account of ourselves,” he said.

“We still have enough good players to choose from and we hope to play well in the opening game.”

Mr Cox said the Colts do have a couple of young players supporters should keep an eye on this summer.

“We have two players who play in the NSW country/ACT under 19 squad in Marty Jefferies and Tom Atlee they are young and keen and in good form, they have trained very well in the pre-season,” he said.

“We will select them in the first–grade, Marty played last year in Sydney and is coming back to us and Tom will play with us this season but will probably end up in Sydney.

“Marty is a top order batsman and bowls leg spin and Tom is a fast bowler who bats in the middle order, they will be valuable for us.

“The club has a couple of older blokes that may want to play second grade so we will seek to promote some younger players into first-grade at times throughout the season, there will be opportunities for our youth.

“We feel with Jefferies and Atlee mixed with the same core of more experienced players in our team that we should have a good season.”