Tough season almost at end

ALBERTON Ormeau veteran Shane Connors admits the winless Hurricanes’ finals hopes are all but over as they brace for two more brutal Kookaburra Cup tests before Christmas.

Minor premiers and grand finalists last season after collecting the 2017-18 wooden spoon, the Hurricanes have returned to the first-grade cellar this campaign on the back of seven consecutive losses.

Their quest to climb off the foot of the ladder gets no easier in the last two fixtures before a three-week break, with today’s home battle with ladder-leading Broadbeach Robina to be followed by a trip to secondplaced Mudgeeraba Nerang on December 21.

Already a whopping 34 points adrift of the top four, allrounder Connors conceded Alberton were next to no chance of making finals but said there was still plenty to play for.

“Playing against the best two teams (in the next two weeks), it’s a chance to prove we’re not the worst team in the competition. We play the game because we love it so the enjoyment factor is key (now),” the 41-year-old said.

“It’s safe to say things aren’t going to plan. We’re looking at it as though the finals is out of the question, it takes the pressure off. We can go back to being underdogs again.

“It’s just been one of those years. Every game bar one we can see what’s happened as to

Helensvale Pacific Pines v Queens

Burleigh v Mudgeeraba Nerang

Southport Labrador v Palm Beach Currumbin

Coomera Hope Island v Surfers Paradise

Alberton Ormeau v Broadbeach Robina

why it hasn’t gone right. It’s not doom and gloom but you look at the table and we’re sitting bottom. We need to get some wins and get some milestones. We’re working as hard as we can on and off the field.”

One of the stars of last season’s competition with 427 runs at 28.47 and 33 wickets at 10.33, Connors is among a host of Hurricanes down on form.

He’s scored 139 runs at 19.86 and taken seven wickets at 21.86, and said an inability to stick to “the fundamentals of cricket” had so far been the Hurricanes’ downfall.

“What I’ve been trying to say for a couple of years is to be positive but when results don’t go your way it’s a hard thing to focus on. It’s evident that people are down,” he said.

“There’s a few things that have conspired against us that are out of our hands. We’re not a real fan of the competition set-up (with) the mixture and the flipping and flopping of two-dayers and one-dayers and byes. We’re struggling for numbers this year and just to get 11 players on the field in all our grades is proving difficult.”

BRENT O’NEILL