Batter up … David Land, who got one RBI on Wednesday, steps up to bat. 54533 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By Michael Esposito
NEWPORT’S lean season continued as the Rams went down 8-2 to Cheltenham in the seventh round of the Summer League on Tuesday, and its scheduled game against Fitzroy on Sunday was washed out.
Newport failed to capitalise on early opportunities against Cheltenham, and did not convert loaded bases into runs in the first.
The game stayed tight until the sixth, when Cheltenham extended its 3-2 lead with a succession of hits – piling on five runs to Newports’s one – to put the result beyond the Rams’ grasp.
Newport head coach Darren Malthouse said it was another case of his side failing to put scoreboard pressure on its opponent when it had the oppurtunity.
“At the start, we didn’t score enough runs in the first innings, we scored one when we should have scored at lease three, and in the second inning the same thing,” Malthouse said.
“Our pitchers just didn’t throw that well in the last inning, Cheltenham got a few hits and just took over. We were down 3-2 up to that stage.”
Malthouse did praise young Griffen Weir, who started on the mound and pitched superbly over four innings.
“Weir threw a blinder early. They out-hit us in the end and we didn’t do enough against Cunningham and Hogben when we had the chances to score.
“It’s going to be very tight between a number of clubs. We just have to lift our game a notch or two.”
“I think we need to start playing as a team and help each other out. It’s a long season.”
Newport will next take on Blackburn away on Sunday.
