“Close but no cigar” could be South Hobart-Sandy Bay’s catchphrase for the season to date.
Going into round seven, the Sharks have just the one win but have had two byes, a wash out, a one-wicket-last ball loss to Lindisfarne and a 67-run defeat last round to Clarence.
Even that defeat to Clarence had some merit as the Sharks bravely chased the Roos huge 6-403 declared.
South Hobart-Sandy Bay coach Richard Allanby said it had been a battle to get continuity of play into his young squad.
“The roster is what it is and we will plan accordingly,” Allanby said.
“We are excited that we are not relying on senior players as we have done in the past.
“We have a great group of young players throughout the club all of which have been through our youth system.
“If we have had of converted some of our 50s into hundreds like Clarence did, you never know what might have been.”
While the batters have held their own and has more experience in captain Tom Willoughby, Caedance Kuepper, Caleb Oaks and Sean Willis, the same can’t be said with the ball for the young Sharks, especially with swing master Gabe Bell currently starring for the Tigers in the Sheffield Shield.
“Some may say we don’t have an experienced quick when Gabe is away but when he returns through the Big Bash he can mentor and guide our younger quicks,” Allanby said.
“Young paceman Ed Gulline has stood up and now is starting to have some real belief as he has some great attributes.”
South Hobart-Sandy Bay has the chance to get its season back on track in this weekend’s two-day game at Queenborough against an equally desperate New Town, which also only has the one victory to its name.
The Bucks will be buoyed though by the return of captain Mitch Owen.
The red-hot Roos will be at home to reigning premier Lindisfarne in the Eastern Shore clash, with the Lightning coming off a heavy defeat to Glenorchy.
Clarence has no such issues, with playing coach Harry Allanby coming off 141 not out the week before and stand in captain Sam Rainbird the outstanding double of his maiden first-grade century and 6-89 with the ball.
The Roos will be further strengthened by the inclusion of express quick Riley Meredith who is playing his first game of the season after overcoming injury.
Glenorchy can record consecutive wins for the first time this season when it travels up the Midlands Highway to take on the only winless team in the league, the Greater Northern Raiders, at UTAS Stadium.
Magpies captain-coach Josh Hartill will be keen to continue his and the team’s form after he notched up 169 in last round’s belting of Lindisfarne.
It is a top-four battle in the final game of the round, with North Hobart hosting Kingborough at the TCA Ground.
The Demons bowling has been outstanding this season, repeatedly defending average scores mostly through Alex Pyecroft, who has taken an equal competition leading 12 wickets at just 11.75 runs each.
The Knights are coming off a heavy defeat in the previous round to University, but a highlight was the maiden first-grade hundred to young gun Zac Curtain.
His century followed on from scores of 70 against Glenorchy and then 93 playing for Tasmania’s second XI against Queensland to have him marked as a serious player of the future.
CTPL ladder-leader University has the bye this round.
In the women’s CTPL, it is top (North Hobart) against bottom (Clarence) at Soldier’s Memorial Oval for the T20 clash.
The Demons are stacked with firepower, possessing two of the top four run scorers in Melodie Armstrong and skipper Ella Marsh, with Marsh’s outstanding season also seeing her easily the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 17 at a cost of only 12 runs apiece.
The Roos have shown they can compete against any side but there remains a huge gap between their best and worst, often displaying both on the same day.
The Greater Northern Raiders will visit New Town Oval to take on the Bucks for back-to-back games.
The Raiders Emma Manix-Geeves has been incredibly consistent in the shortest format with the bat, but the opener has been far from a one-woman band.
Meg Radford is not only averaging a more than healthy 35 with the bat but has also taken 10 wickets at 14.6 in an impressive all-round performance.