DESPITE sitting on the bottom of the ladder heading into last weekend's final game before Christmas, Woodend is far from out of finals contention, such is the evenness of the Gisborne District Cricket Association's McIntyre Cup.
With two wins and two draws, the club is only six points outside the top four.
"The competition is really close, which has made the matches interesting," club president Ronan Hume said.
"Most of our losses have been really close and we are being pipped at the post."
The club is further down the ladder than they expected, but isn't entirely dissatisfied. "We have blooded a lot of youngsters this year, so we weren't expecting to be in the top couple of teams," Hume said.
"We have a good mixture of old and young guys in the senior side."
While Luke Barker has been the standout, averaging 53.40 with the bat, the young players have not been letting anyone down.
"James Morely has been bowling really well, as is Joe Lefebvre who has played his first McIntyre game this season," Hume said. "Nick Smith, Jack Mackintosh and the Warner boys have got their chances too."
"We are planning to continue to blood the young players and hopefully we can sneak into the top four at the end of the season.
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