Finals have come early for Macedon as it aims to shore up a finals spot in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup.
The Cats are one of six teams fighting for finals spots with three rounds remaining.
Macedon’s final three matches are against Sunbury United (sixth), Romsey (first) and Gisborne (third).
Cats president Stephen Harrison said they were hoping to stay in that top four come the end of the season.
“Obviously we’re happy overall,” he said. “I think we’ve dropped a couple of games that we should have won.
“The conditions were against us in one game. I think we have a good challenge ahead of ourselves to cement a spot in the top four and then hopefully do well in finals.”
Harrison said the group had really improved on last season, their first season back up in the top flight.
He said injuries had hurt them a little bit but hoped to be full strength in the coming weeks as they take on some of the top teams.
Harrison said that the injuries had opened opportunities.for some younger players to step up and continue to take the next step in their development.
“Cadel Howlett, the Bobetic boys (William and Henry), Zavier [Smitten].
“There’s a whole range of them. There’s some who have played in the seconds and then come up and come back and forth.
“They’re all juniors from the club.”
The Cats round 12 match with Sunbury United got underway on Saturday.
The Cats are on the back foot after day one after struggling to fire with the bat.
Batting first, the Cats were bowled out for 140 in the 63rd over.
Ethan Raynor and Cameron Clayton top scored with 25 apiece for the Cats.
Senura Perera took 3-16 off 15.3 overs for the Bees.
The Bees will resume on day two at 3-40.
Harrison said they were embracing the challenge ahead of them for the rest of the season.
“It will be challenging,” he said. “We are going to have to play those teams if we’re to play finals.
“So why not do it now?”
In other matches, Broadford made 233 against Rupertswood, bowled out with two overs remaining.
Joshua Nolan made 103 while Rhys Berry took three wickets for Rupo.
Rupertswood needs to keep winning if its to play finals.
Gisborne was bowled out for 266 in the final over of the day against Romsey in a top four clash.
Mark Barake top scored with 56 for the Dragons with Taylor Stevenson the pick of the bowlers for Romsey with three wickets.
In the remaining match, Woodend piled on the runs against Wallan.
Woodend declared at 8-319 after the lower order added some handy late runs.
Oliver Price top scored with 78.
Wallan had to face four overs at the end of the day and will resume at 1-5.
