Williamstown Congs were after improvement this season and have shown exactly that in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Russell Pollock Shield.
After struggling for numbers last season and with it wins, the Congs are still in finals contention with two rounds remaining in the season.
Congs captain-coach Josh Lanciana said it had been really pleasing to see what the group had been able to do.
“It’s really good to see the all round improvement,” he said. “It’s good for us.
“At the start of the year we looked to take small steps. We’ve been in a rebuild the last couple of years.
“We saw some really positive results coming into Christmas and after Christmas and leaves us in a position to possibly play finals.”
Lanciana said they still had plenty of work to do.
He said this year they wanted to be a competitive side and the group they have coming through had plenty of talent.
“We’ve been very close to beating a couple of the top sides,” he said.
“We haven’t quite been able to hit the nail on the head.
“We’ve identified those things that we have to still improve on.”
On Saturday, the Congs beat Moonee Ponds.
Lanciana said they knew that it wouldn’t be a straight forward win despite the opposition not having their best team on the park.
Moonee Ponds made 158 as it was bowled out in the 74th over.
Rinku Singh took 4-35 for the Congs.
The Congs finished 7-159 in reply. Brandon Mifsud top scored with 42.
The Congs sit fifth on the ladder, seven points outside the top four with two rounds remaining.
The Congs face Wyndham Vale and Jacana in the run home and will go into both games as favourites.
Lanciana said they were aware that anything could happen.
“Wyndham Vale has been a bit rocky,”he said. “We’ve played them once before and they looked pretty solid.
‘We won a one-day game against them and that doesn’t mean anything.
“Jacana will be a tough game.
“A lot can happen. We’ll control what we can control and focus on what is ahead of us.
“Do our best to put us in a position to finish in the top four.”
