St Michaels look for better batting performance against Wagga City

After just missing out on a win against South Wagga in round 12, the Saints got out of jail against Wagga RSL last week.

Now they face a big challenge in ladder leaders Wagga City at McPherson Oval.

The Cats have only lost once this season and went back around the Blues to sit on top of the ladder once more last week.

St Michaels were able to defend a paltry 140 against the Bulldogs last week, but coach Justin Ward knows they are going to need a lot more runs on the board if they are going to be a chance to take down the Cats.

“Batting is a big key and if you can put good runs on the board you can always put a bit on pressure on them,” Ward said.

“That’s the big key – trying to put a big score on the board.

“A 250 plus that can make them think about it a bit more.”

Ward was far from impressed with the batting effort last week, especially after putting 257 on the board the round earlier.

Saints were in trouble at 2-4 before contributions from Brendan Gale (32), Luke Hipwell (26), Ryan Forsyth (24) and Jared Koetz (23) saw them to what was a defendable total.

Ward is looking for more.

“It was pretty disappointing for us to only get 140,” he said.

“Considering over the last six or seven games we’ve got a bit more form with the bat.

“At least one of our top three have been making runs.

“Brendan Gale made 32 but no one went on to make a good score, that 70 or 80 plus that would have got us above 200.

“It happens in cricket, you can’t always get them.”

Despite a poor batting effort, Ward was thrilled with how the bowlers performed.

They bowled out RSL for 69 to stay right in the thick of things for a finals berth.

“The bowlers showed good fight to come out and get the wickets, which was good,” he said.

St Michaels moved into the top four with their win last week, but only percentage separates them and fifth-placed Kooringal Colts.

The two sides face off next week but picking up some points against Wagga City could give them so valuable breathing space with an out-of-form Colts taking on South Wagga.

Ward is just focusing on trying to bring up another win.

“Our best chance of making the finals is to keep winning,” he said.

“It is obviously going to be tough as Cats, as well as South Wagga, are right up there.

“It is going to be very difficult, but I believe that if we play our best cricket we can match it with them.”

Ward is unavailable next week so will also sit out the first half of the clash.

However bowler Tom Williams returns to the side.

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