Melton South Royals are hoping to turn their Victorian Turf Cricket Association Roy Picone Shield season around, starting this weekend.
The Royals, who are in their first season in division 3, sit bottom of the table after eight rounds.
This Saturday they face Keilor Park which sits nine points above them in the relegation race.
Royals’ president Blake Ivory said it had been a tough year.
“It has not quite worked for us this year,” he said. “We’ve had a few injuries, a few players didn’t return that we thought would and there’s been lots of unavailability.”
Ivory said they had been competitive against teams that are thereabouts in the mix for finals, but haven’t been able to get over the line.
He said they didn’t think they were far off in what has proven to be an even competition this season.
“We’ve played well in bits and pieces throughout the year,” he said.
“We lack that consistency of having consistent games together. We have one player play well one week and the next we’ve got someone different.
“We need two or three guys to stand out each week, which has hurt us.”
The Royals only win this season has come against the Devils, giving them confidence going into Saturday’s game.
The game was meant to be a two-dayer, but day one was cancelled due to the heat.
Ivory said no matter the result against the Devils they were still focused on ensuring they remain in division 3.
“If we lose we can still mathematically stay up,” he said. “We’ve got to keep pushing in the last few rounds to stay up.
“We need to win on the weekend and get a couple more wins before the end of the year.”
Ivory said while their first XI was struggling things were going well through the rest of the club.
He said they’ve got more numbers in the seniors than it has for a long time, while the club’s junior program is thriving.
“It’s the first time we’ve had five senior teams in a long time,” he said. “Our seconds and thirds look like playing finals and our fifths as well.
“It’s been a pretty successful season.”
