THE equation for Manly is simple – beat Hawkesbury this weekend at Manly Oval to finish in the top six.
If they lose, semi-final cricket will be a pipedream.
It comes after a disappointing defeat at the hands of Fairfield-Liverpool last Saturday at Rosedale Oval.
After week one was washed out, both teams pushed for a result.
The Lions batted first, compiling 7-214 from 65.3 overs. Opener Guy Seymour was an immovable force, hitting an unbeaten century.
In response the Waratahs were rolled for 142, with Justin Cox top scoring with 30.
“No excuses, it was a belter of a deck for batting,’’ skipper Tim Cruickshank said. “I felt we did well to contain them to under 220, but when we batted we were poor, we gave away cheap wickets.
“The boys know what they dished up is unacceptable.”
A win would have virtually sewn up a semifinal spot, a stat that irks Cruickshank.
“We knew what was required, we were a little bit off the pace,’’ he said.
“It makes this weekend all or nothing, if that doesn’t fire up the boys I don’t know what will.”
In Sunday afternoon’s inaugural Fiona Lyon Memorial Cup, Manly’s Past XI, led by club coach Shawn Bradstreet, were too strong for the Present XI.
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