This time last year, Macquarie Cricket Club were fighting to keep their finals hopes alive and cling onto a top three finish after being dealt a loss by the CYMS Cougars.
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While the circumstances have changed hugely for the Blues one year on, much of the key players are the same.
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Macquarie, who currently sit atop the ladder, dealt second-ranked CYMS a loss in their last outing before the competition had to be sent into the Christmas break a weekend early due to health concerns over high temperatures.
The run of good results this year, resulting from a more consistent effort and the addition and return of a few of the competition's savvier players, has Macquarie's spirits high heading into the back half of the Whitney Cup, according to skipper Ed Haylock.
"Confidence is definitely up, we've had a couple of inclusions that have made a big difference to us, Angus Cusack of course and the addition of Ben Strachan, they've really added to the consistency," Haylock said.
The Blues, who have had their own fair share of heartbreak at the hands of the Whitney Cup, are still wary of letting the run of success get to their heads, however.
"Heading into Christmas at the top of the table is always a bonus, but as we know it's only halfway through the season, anything can and does happen, now, I think, we've really got to put our heads down and make the results so far count," Haylock said.
On the numbers, Macquarie currently possess one of the more effective batting lineups, with talents like Dan Medway having put in strong showings early in the season, something that Haylock attributes to an all around deeper batting roster this year.
"The main goal is to make the most of our deeper batting order, backing ourselves early and knowing there's more to come after us, we know that losing early wickets isn't too big a deal, because the middle order's going to do the job and get a competitive total," Haylock said.
While Haylock says that Macquarie are used to missing out come finals time and are looking to 'take nothing for granted this year' given their historical record in Whitney Cup fixtures come the end of the season.
"I think we've won one in the last thirty or something like that, so we're ready for anything."
But all that said, the club boasting one of it's stronger line-ups in recent memory, with plenty more talent on the way has Haylock very optimistic about the future beyond the current season.
"Yeah, our future's definitely looking very bright at the moment."
Macquarie kick off the second half of their season against Rugby Cricket Club on Saturday, January 11 at 1pm.