An ignominious Creighton Cup campaign has left Shoalhaven District Cricket Association president, Justin Weller, ruing what might have been.
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Weller had high hopes for the side, which played two games in Shellharbour over the weekend, but lacklustre batting displays let the team down in both fixtures.
"Our batting was probably what let us down the most," Weller said.
"On Saturday, we had five blokes get to double figures and get a start, but no-one went on with it. And it was the same on Sunday, apart from myself, nobody went on with it. I'm disappointed, really, I thought we had a good chance."
The SDCA's first match, against South Coast on Saturday, was played at Howard Fowles Oval. Batting first, South Coast made 9-264 from its 50 overs thanks in large to a 102-run opening stand between Adam Ison (58) and Scott McAndrew (39). A brief collapse threatened to halt their momentum at 4-144, but consistent contributions from the lower order saw South Coast through to a solid total.
In reply, the SDCA couldn't capitalise on a number of starts and was rolled for 128, 136 runs short of the target.
On Sunday, the SDCA aimed to rebound in the third-place playoff game against the Highlands.
"We sat down and spoke about [our batting] as a team, and we spoke about it again on Sunday morning," Weller said.
"But again on Sunday, we just played poor shots. I think it comes back to playing no cricket, playing the ball too early or playing the wrong shot at the wrong time."
Batting first on Sunday, Weller himself was the only SDCA batter to cross 50 for the weekend, and the next-highest score after his knock of 70 was Jack Walsh's 18.
The second match produced a slightly better effort of 149 all out, but it still proved no challenge to the Highlands lineup, which reached the target in the 37th over.
While the team's batting was in sharp focus throughout the weekend, Weller noted that their sub-standard fielding also cost valuable runs, particularly in the first game.
"It was evident in the field, especially Saturday we performed really well for the first 45 overs, but the last five overs probably cost us 40 runs," he said.
"I think that comes down to the fact that we play 45-over cricket, not 50-over cricket. Stepping up with those extra five overs is a big difference."
However, there were some bright spots for the team among the gloom. Weller was particularly impressed with the performances of Alex Dobson, Cooper Bramley, and Walsh - the three youngest players in the side.
"Dobbo got 21 opening the batting on Saturday and didn't look out of place, and the same with Cooper. He opened the bowling and got 2-40, which on a flat pitch and a quick outfield was a really good result," he said.
"The same on Sunday, Cooper bowled really well and young Jack Walsh got 18 on Sunday in conditions that were a bit trying, it was a little bit two-paced. He batted really well."
Despite the embattled side's results from the weekend, Weller believes the experience will prove invaluable to them in the future.
"The whole side's young, apart from myself and Luke [Jurancic], everyone else is under 25. It's a reasonably inexperienced side, and they'll be better for it," he said.
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