Rovers started off their 2018-19 Premier League campaign with a loss in their round three clash with the Port City League Magpies at South West Rocks on Saturday.
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Rovers were playing their first game of the season after they had a bye for the first round before their second round game was washed out.
Rovers lost the toss and were forced to bowl.
They started the contest strong as they picked up four wickets before the Magpies reached 50.
However, the Rovers weren’t able to pick up the important wicket of opener Ben Marron, who went on to score a game-defining 87 runs.
“We had a few chances but we weren’t able to take them and he went on to hurt us,” Rovers’ stand-in captain Ethan Dowling told the Argus.
The Magpies set a total of 233 at the end of their 40 overs and Rovers were immediately on the backfoot as their first six batsmen failed to reach double digits.
“It would have helped if we batted first but that’s cricket,” Dowling said.
“It all happened pretty quickly, no one could get a start and they took all of their chances.”
One of the younger players in the Rovers side, teenager Mitch Korn, put up a fight to give his team some hope.
Korn scored a Premier League career high of 63 runs to aid in Rovers reaching 178 before they were dismissed in the 34th over.
“Mitch was terrific, he batted really well and impressed everyone,” Dowling said.
“He showed great fight when things weren’t going our way.
“I thought we were a chance when he reached his 50 but we kept losing wickets and it just wasn’t our day.”
While it wasn’t the start to the season Rovers were searching for, Dowling believes there was plenty of positives to take out of the game.
“We were still in it and it was an off day for us,” he said.
“We still have plenty of improvement left in us.”
Rovers were without captain Danny Powick and all-rounder Matt Scott for the contest.
Lachlan Dowling made his debut in the Premier League.
The teenager scored eight runs, which was the top score for Rovers’ opening six batsman.
Rovers will regroup this week before they travel to face Wauchope RSL this Saturday.
Wauchope will enter the game on the back of a bye. They defeated the Magpies in round two.
Rovers will face off with arch rivals Nulla the following week.
Rovers are in seventh position but there’s still 15 rounds remaining in the 2018/19 season.
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