FOXIES LOOK TO FIRE IN DOUBLE HEADER WEEKEND

Fox Lodge will look to put the disappointment of last week behind them as they have a big double-header to look forward to, with a home Championship game against Killyclooney, followed by an away-day trip to Carrickfergus in the National Cup.

“It was a disappointing result for us at the weekend with the loss to St Johnston,” said skipper Johnny Robinson. “In hindsight, opting to bat first may not have been the best decision given how the pitch conditions evolved throughout the day, as it dried out and noticeably became a bit easier to bat on during the second innings. But we backed ourselves batting first to go out and set a competitive total and defend it, but unfortunately, we probably ended up about 30 runs short of what we needed to really put them under pressure.

“A key absence for us on the day was Adam Walker, who was sidelined with a minor niggle. He’s been in good form with the ball recently and has been a reliable option for us in key spells. There’s a chance he might also miss this coming weekend, but we’re hoping it’s nothing too serious and we can have him back to full fitness soon. His presence with the ball has been important, and he’s definitely a player we want available as the season progresses.

“Looking ahead to the upcoming weekend, the rest of the squad should be at full strength, and we’re optimistic about getting back to winning ways after a few tough results.

“On Saturday, we’re back at home where we’ll face Killyclooney in what’s shaping up to be a crucial league fixture. Despite a couple of recent setbacks, we’re still unbeaten in the league, and we’re keen to keep that momentum going. It’ll be important to start well and play with confidence.

“Then on Sunday, we’re on the road as we travel to Carrickfergus for our National Cup match, which has been brought forward to a 1pm start.  They are a strong outfit with a number of good players, so we’re under no illusions about the challenge ahead. It’s going to take a full team performance to come away with a result, but we’re confident that if we play to our potential, we can beat anyone on our day. It would be fantastic to get a win in the cup and start building a bit of momentum again. The belief is still strong within the squad, and we’re all focused on turning things around with a positive weekend ahead.”