RSL-Colts captain Marty Jeffrey has hit out at his own side, accusing his players of lacking respect and insisting his batsmen need to work more after disappointing back-to-back losses in the RSL-Whitney Cup.
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It seemed like business as usual when Colts started the season with a double bonus point win over Newtown but since then the men in red have been beaten by Rugby and South Dubbo.
Last round's loss was particularly surprising given the Hornets had only won once since the start of last season heading into the game.
"On paper we should be winning all three games but we're probably not respecting the opposition as much as we should," Jeffrey said.
"The last few years we just got the job done and had the side to do that.
"But there's been some changes and we've been going through the motions and just expecting it.
"We haven't been putting our hand up and I think it's good we've had our pants pulled down because it's a bit of a wake-up call."
The performance of the batsmen has been the biggest issue up to this point.
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Three Colts batsmen have reached 50 so far this season but each were dismissed before they made 60.
The fact the two sides which have beaten Colts have had someone spend a long period in the middle has made it clear how important it is to have someone anchor the innings.
Jacob Hill made a century in Rugby's win while Adam Wells smashed 85 in Souths' victory.
"We're getting starts and that's been an issue the last few years," Jeffrey said.
"As a club we can do the job with the ball but scoring big runs is the issue we've had.
"I've put the onus back on the batsmen and someone needs to do the job. I'm included in that."
Jeffrey is one of the three players to make a half-century this season, the others being Charlie Kempston and 15-year-old Anthony Atlee.
Colts' slow start makes the next two rounds even more important.
On Saturday the men in red meet a Macquarie side which has already shown it will be a title contender before a meeting with current competition leaders CYMS follows that.
"They're two big games in the context of where we'll sit at the [Christmas] break," Jeffrey said.
Macquarie has won two of its three games this season but its batting lineup has impressed each round.
Dan Medway has been destructive at the top of the order whiel Ricky Medway, Jason Green, Ed Haylock, Angus Cusack, and Ben Strachan provide a huge amount of depth.
Jeffrey said early wickets from new ball bowlers Ben Semmler and Bede Young will be key but added others like teenage quick Alex Orth have shown they can keep things tight in the middle overs so far this season.
Orth has made a leap this season and has impressed so far with the ball, while Nathan Jones and Jeffrey have provided the spin option.
Colts and Macquarie meet at No. 1 Oval while the other one-day games this round see Souths and Rugby do battle at No. 2 Oval and CYMS and Newtown meet at No. 3.
Play starts at 1pm in all games.