LULLINGTON Park skipper Jonny Shales has called for his side to bounce back from their embarrassing defeat last week.
The defending Derbyshire Premier League champions were humbled by Quarndon as they slumped to 79 all out, eventually sinking by nine wickets and picking up no points.
Now, captain Shales wants a reaction in his side’s last fixtures, against Ticknall at home tomorrow and away to Sandiacre Town on Sunday, noon start in both games.
“It seems to have been a very long season and maybe the pressure of being champions and our own expectations being set so high has affected us at times,” said the all-rounder.
“Last week was disappointing to say the least and I’m sure the lads wouldn’t disagree that it was embarrassing to get beaten like that.
“Our attitude was poor right from the warm-up and I could tell that in our heads it was as if the season was over already and, once that happens, it’s so easy to get rolled over like we did.
“Only Rich Green came out of it with any credit at all as he stuck around watching wickets fall around him.
“This weekend we need to rectify that so we go into the winter on a bit of a high.
Ticknall is a local derby and will be a very tough side to beat.
“Their batting is strong and they also have a couple of dangerous bowlers capable of taking wickets.
“They fully deserve to be where they are in the league and we need to be at our best to beat them.
“Sunday doesn’t get any easier and we may have a say in the title race after all as we go to Sandiacre, who are now only a few points behind Ockbrook after beating them last week.”
Shales will be missing several players due to university commitments and needs to balance his selections to give the 2nd XI every chance of avoiding relegation from Division Three.
DUNSTALL end the season looking to finish in the top half of the Derbyshire Premier League after a fairly comfortable campaign.
They face Quarndon at Deer Park on Saturday and end with a trip to the Grange on Sunday to face Ticknall, both games starting at noon.
Skipper Martin Clewley hopes to finish on a high — but any results will not tarnish a season where the Deer Parkers have improved dramatically on a traumatic 2010 where they were almost relegated.
“We would love to win them both and finish the season on a big high,” said the veteran off-spinner.
“It is still achievable to get into the top six, we’re playing two sides we think we can beat and we’d like to finish in the top half.
“I think we’re happy with the season so far, we’ve improved a lot since last season and played better cricket and with more consistency.
“But it would be nice to round off with another victory and push ourselves into the top six.
“Compare it to this time last year, when we were going into the final weekend as one of the relegation favourites, it’s a major step in the right direction.
“Ticknall have a good, balanced side and have surprised a few people this year but the bottom line is their bowling and batting keeps producing week after week.
They’ve got some of the form players in the division so it will be a very tough game for us.
“Quarndon likewise. They’ve probably not performed and achieved their potential this year when you look at the side they have. They’d have liked to have finished a lot higher, so it will be difficult but we’re looking to win the game.”
Ben McLeod comes in for spinning allrounder Scott Chilman on Saturday, but the left-arm twirler returns on Sunday.
