Sunshine United knows it can’t let the foot off the pedal in the last three weeks of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division.
The Tigers entered the weekend second spot, but a loss to the Druids leaves the side vulnerable.
Speaking before the match, Tigers coach Henry Popinski said they know what is at stake in the final few rounds of the season.
“We can not slip up at all, or finals will be lost,” he said.
“If we want to make sure that we play finals we need to win at least one more game.
“With where we are now, it’s a pass mark to make finals.”
No matter whether the side plays finals or not, it’s been an improvement on last season when the side finished with just one win.
Popinski said they had definitely been more competitive than last year, which is what they has expected after recruiting well in the off season,
The Tigers first challenge in the run home is with the bat against the Druids on Saturday, which is after deadline.
The Wizards made 9-279 from their 80 overs to be in the box seat after day one.
Popinski said credit had to go to the opposition in a match which always presented a tough challenge.
“It was really good batting conditions,” he said. “It was a warm day.
“We could have done a few things differently, but they batted well and had a guy who made 100 and didn’t give a chance.
“There were some big scores across the round. It is a little more than we would have liked to be chasing.”
The Tigers were bowled out for 224.
He said it had been a difficult season at times. Only one other of the club’s senior sides sit inside the top four at this stage.
“The club has improved from last year, which is what we expected,’ he said. “It has been a challenge to get the guys to training regularly and we’ve had a few injury concerns.
“We would have like to have had a couple more sides playing finals.”
