Every run and wicket matters in Sunbury’s run home in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s McIntyre Cup.
While its finals hopes are still alive, avoiding relegation is what Sunbury is focusing on.
After nine rounds, the bottom four teams are separated by just five points, with the last-placed side facing relegation.
Sunbury sits 10 points outside the top four after nine rounds.
Club secretary Marty Kelders says this season’s new points format means results aren’t as simple as just winning or losing.
“Every run and every wicket means something,” he said. “Certainly, no one wants to be relegated, but that’s the reality we face. We just have to win our matches, and you don’t know what will happen.”
While it has found form in recent weeks, even stringing two wins together, Sunbury was a disappointment against Bacchus Marsh on Saturday.
After losing half of day one due to a wet ground, Bacchus Marsh took the go-slow batting tack, making 112 off 96 overs and leaving Sunbury with 26 overs to better the total.
Sunbury captain Jason McGann bowled 36 overs (for six wickets), while playing co-coach Heath Boffey bowled 32 overs.
“Bacchus Marsh had the tactic of trying to bat the day out,” Kelders said afterwards. “It was very slow going.
“We tried to force a result, and lost a few wickets along the way. We had the attitude that we wanted to win and, needing five runs an over, we gave it a shot.”
Sunbury finished at 7-85, opener Justin Nelson top-scoring with 30.
After back-to-back grand final appearances, the unavailability of players this season hit the team massively, Kelders said.
“We know we can compete with the top sides if we can get all our players on the park. We keep trying to play positively and we’re hoping to have a full team in the last few weeks,” he said.
Sunbury has three matches remaining: it plays Riddell and Woodend then a catch-up match against Romsey on February 14.
All the other catch-up matches, except Sunbury vs Sunshine United, were played on Sunday.
Sunbury and Sunshine United played a memorial match for James Wilson, who had played with both clubs but died after a car accident a year ago.
“The preparations were under way and, when they announced the date of the catch-up round, we spoke to the league and Romsey about changing the date,” Kelders said. “It’s certainly a good cause, and it’s good to have a connection with another side and see how they do things.”
United, fielding a nearly full team after its match was washed out on Saturday, defeated a young Sunbury side.
