Hillgrove captain Matt Schaefer has warned his team not to get complacent against an Ex-Services side building confidence after preventing an outright loss on Saturday to Guyra.
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It looked like an unlikely result for Servies heading into the second day of the game after Guyra declared at 8-301 on day one.
They then had Servies at 6-23 by the end of the day’s play.
The second day saw a rejuvenated Servies line up who dug in at the back-end of the innings to finish with 118 followed by a second innings total of 5-205.
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It wasn’t a good day for their coming opponents though who faced long-time rivals Easts and made 101 from their innings and opted to end the match early.
The Hillgrove batting line-up is arguably the best among the first grade teams but Schaefer said the order hasn’t been performing.
“I thought we were pretty evenly poised with Easts but we just didn't value any of our wickets and probably didn't bat with any intent either and ended up being about 100 short,” he told The Armidale Express.
“I think a lot of the guys, because we have a long batting order, think if they don't get the runs then someone else will get the runs.
“That is not a great mindset to take into a game.
“Every single player should be valuing their wicket and thinking if they don't get them, the next guys won't just be able to step in and pick up from where they left off.
“It was disappointing on the weekend.”
Schaefer will miss the game against Servies but is hoping, in his absence, the team can stand up.
“It is probably a battle of the cellar dwellers a bit,” he said.
“We haven't looked like winning a game yet and neither have they.
“We all know that they can fight, it just depends which Servies team you get there on the weekend.
“The other guys that are there can do the job but they just have to value their wicket, take some ownership and really put their hand up.”
On the other hand, Ex-Services found plenty of positives in their performance with the bat on Saturday against Guyra.
Captain John Elliot is hoping they can build on it and deny Hillgrove the chance to earn their first win of the season.
“We had to show a fair bit of ticker in the first innings to make sure that we weren't rolled for under 50,” he said,
“I couldn't be anymore proud of how they batted in both innings.”
While their batting improved drastically, Elliot believes there is a lot of work to do to get their bowling up to scratch.
“One big things to come out of the first innings was us bowling,” he said.
“I think that is an area we can improve.
“Except for Dan Hogan, I thought he bowled outstanding without much of a wrap.
“It is up to a few of us others, including myself, to back him up.”
While Hillgrove will be missing Schaefer, Will Archer and Matt Baillie, Servies are close to full-strength.
“Brad 'the wicket whisperer' Widders comes back into the side, he was away for the other game and Ben Spence is away this weekend,” Elliot said.
“He adds a bit of cricket smarts but he is also handy runs down the order. Time-and-time again he has proved invaluable.
“It also adds an extra bowler up my sleeve.
“I would like to beat a Hillgrove side that is full-strength.”