Rams hope for Christmas cheer in final round as Pi’s aim to maintain dominance

The Rams are under pressure after a disappointing double-header last weekend and will be hoping to turn it around in the final round before Christmas.

Martians will be looking for the opportunity to spend the break at the top of the ladder but the Rams will have points to prove.

Even with their team still depleted in numbers, coach Dean Pascoe said he remained hopeful of bouncing straight back.

“We will be undermanned again missing myself and two of our other senior players, but we do have some great young talent coming through,” he said.

“We also have some good senior division two players that can slot straight into our team when needed and I have plenty of faith we will be competitive against a Martians team we came so close to beating on the weekend with a very inexperienced team.”

Pi’s division one women’s have gone from strength in their past few games and the Rams versus Pi’s game may be the perfect way to sign off on the first half of the season.

Janelle Phillips, Natalie Wisewould and Kylie Morgan have all impressed of late Morgan’s home run off the team’s first at-bat the highlight of the last round.

Pi’s coach David Sutton acknowledged his side’s tenacity in recent games.

“We have been in good form in recent weeks, and hope to continue the momentum but with a couple of key players out, we will have to be on our toes, however, this is a great opportunity to test our depth,” he said.

Marlins take a well-earned break after their double win last round, leaving Martians taking on Suiside in the other women’s division one match-up.

Both teams will be looking to build confidence back up after their losses to Marlins and Pi’s in the last round.

In the second division Batavia Blaze take on Rams Blue as both sides will once again be calling on rookies to make up numbers.

Blaze coach Adam Gilchrist said he was looking forward to another exciting match-up.

“The guys will be going their hardest and also last game break before the break and we have a couple guys back from work and sickness, so hopefully we will have a strong team and can put up a fight against them,” he said.

Suiside have their double-header against Rams Blue (also in a double-header) and Rams White with all three sides looking to finish strong after mixed results over the past few games

Marlins will face Martians Red in the last game of the round for the men as Les Purcell’s side look to build back up after their 33-8 loss to Rams Blue.

In the women’s competition, Martians Red play their double-header against Marlins and Suiside, while Pi’s will hope to build on their recent good run of form against the under-fire Blaze side.

Suiside take on Rams in the final game as both sides looking to end the first half of the season on a positive note.