The Merimbula Knights have given up almost half as many wickets as their nearest rival with cricket set to return this weekend.
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The Knights are holding down the top of the ladder equal with the Tathra Sea Eagles, yet the Merimbula line-up has lost 31 wickets over nine rounds to the 50 of the Tathra roster.
Consistency is proving key with both the Knights and the Sea Eagles offering up regular results in runs on the board and wickets taken.
Both clubs rank highly in all the important stats showing their ability to put on a strong effort repeatedly.
The Knights have always boasted a tight fielding line-up and particularly a valiant defensive effort to hold the crease.
But the return of some big hitters in Dylan Jordan and Brendan Daley is also helping the club run down big targets.
Combined with the bowling prowess of Angus Tarpey and Matt Priem, the Knights will be a tough team to knock off the podium.
Both the Knights one and the Sea Eagles one teams will be the ones looking to gain supremacy when round 10 of the first division draw gets underway, providing the first play in almost a month for cricketers.
The round will include a rematch of sorts as the Knights one head south to take on Eden after the Knights two side played Eden in round nine.
Meanwhile, Pambula is emerging as a bit of a dark horse in the competition this year.
The club struggled last year and finished at the bottom of the ladder, but heading into the second round is holding down fourth place, just a few competition points behind Bermagui.
The Bluedogs have a renewed energy on the pitch and will be eager to return to the crease as this year’s strongest batting line-up so far.
There has been some mixed bag results for the Pambula club, but the Bluedogs have also secured comfortable wins over more fancied opponents in early clashes.
Tom Keath and Charlie Sheppard are shaping as strong batsmen for the Bluedogs with plenty of support from Jake Taylor.
With the ball in hand, the Bluedogs will look to Kye Overend, Jay Richmond and Tom Hammond to haul in the opposition.
Just nine more rounds remain before the competition splits into two semi-final draws and points are at a premium to get a head start on the hunt.
The Knights will play at the Eden Cricket Ground, while the Knights two take on Tuross at Tuross.
Meanwhile, the Bluedogs will travel south to play Mallacoota in Mallacoota.
All matches will run from 1pm on Saturday.