Steady Hills eyes finals

By Gavin Staindl
ENDEAVOUR Hills has put in a “workman-like” performance to keep its hopes of finishing the year in the top six alive.
After a week of turbulence that featured two sapping losses and the walk-out of strike bowler Danny Evans to Cranbourne, the Hills bounced back on Saturday to register 187 against Noble Park at Pat Wright Snr Oval.
At 4/46, the Victorian Sub-District team looked in strife, but steadying knocks by Shane Peake (39) and Richie Saniga (48) steadied the ship.
Hills coach John Hayes said despite everything that has happened over the last week, he is proud that his team could respond on gameday.
“In the past we would have folded and put up the white flag,” Hayes said. “We’ve had a few underlying things that went against us last week but they’ve come out, turned it around and it’s a good sign they’ve put it behind them. While the performance wasn’t spectacular, it was solid, and we’ve given ourselves an opportunity to win purely through fight.”
Despite losing Evans to Cranbourne through “personal reasons”, Hayes believes his side can still make the final six without adding a replacement for the side’s leading wicket taker.
“I’m confident with the squad we’ve got and I’ll back my boys in this year,” Hayes said. “We’ve made big improvements and we’re a hell of a lot more confident than in previous years and if we stick to what we’re doing we can make that final six.”