Tara Murray
Werribee will aim to regroup and get its season back on track after successive losses in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west.
After being the best team for the past couple of years, the Tigers are yet to hit their groove so far this season.
Captain Tim O’Brien said it was pretty simple where they were letting themselves down.
“We haven’t been playing up to our ability,” he said. “We’re not getting enough runs on the board.
“We got 117 on the weekend and 180 the week before and we were lucky to get that.
“Once one player gets away they’re hard to stop with no pressure on the scoreboard.”
O’Brien said it was a case of players getting starts this season and not going on with it as they would have been in the past.
He said the senior players and himself needed to stick around for longer.
“No one has got over 60 runs this year,” he said.
“We need someone to get 70, 80 runs and get those big scores. We’re not getting them at the moment.”
After having a fairly stable side the last few seasons, the Tigers have had some new faces step up.
The two Dean boys, Shaun and Matt, have missed a match each so there’s been a new opening partnership in those matches.
O’Brien sees that more as an opportunity more than anything.
“It’s always good to give opportunities,” he said. “That’s the exciting part. We’ve got a lot of experience, so it’s good to see some new players in the side.”
On Saturday, the Tigers faced Williamstown.
The Tigers were sent in on a fresh pitch, with O’Brien saying he would have bowled if he had the choice.
“They bowled really well,” he said. “We edged a couple through to behind.
“Had we managed to get to 150-160 it would have been a really exciting game.”
The Tigers were bowled out for 117 in the 42nd over.
Nathan Taylor top scored with 30.
O’Brien said they needed some luck to go their way if they were to win, but it didn’t fall.
A couple of chances fell short and the Seagulls went on to make 3-118.
“They took control of the game and they could wait to score when there was a bad ball. It was a comfortable win by Williamstown.”
The loss leaves the Tigers in 10th spot after seven rounds. O’Brien said they chatted after the game about regrouping and getting the season back on track before Christmas.
Hoppers Crossing is getting the momentum going, beating Endeavour Hills on Saturday.
Endeavour Hills was bowled out for 196 with the Cats sharing the wickets around.
Simon Lambert was again in the runs as the Cats got the runs with ease, finishing 2-178 with 16 balls remaining.
Lambert made 90 not out.
The win was the Cats third and moves them to seventh.
