IT'S a simple equation for Sutherland and St George first grade teams over the next three rounds.
They probably need to win each of their remaining three games — even two — and hope higher-placed teams fall by the wayside to make the top six.
The Sydney Cricket Association competition is tight. A loss sees a teams slide down the competition table faster than jelly falls from a dinner plate.
And victory catapults a team like a pole vaulter at an athletics carnival.
Saints play North Sydney at North Sydney Oval on Saturday and Sunday. Sutherland meet Gordon on Saturday and Sunday.
Both matches start at 10.30am.
Sutherland first grade were defeated by Manly on Saturday.
Manly made 9(dec)-307 with Mitch Brown taking 3-24 and Riley Ayre 3-100.
Sutherland made 220 with Mitch Brown scoring an unbeaten 129 and Jack Leaning 31.
Brown reached a milestone of 2000 runs in all grades for the club when he batted against Manly.
In second grade, Manly made 281 with Dylan Smith taking 3-23, Trent Smith 2-41 and Nathan Whittingham, 2-77, Sutherland made 259 with Shayne Smith scoring 93, Scott Pickering 74, Trent Smith 34).
In third grade, Sutherland made 8-150 ( Joel Burnett, 45, Josh Zywietz unbeaten on 26, Nathan Loder, 22) defeated Manly, 149. Alex Watkiss took 4-39, Josh Zywietz 2-18, and Rory Darkins, 2-31.
In fourth grade, Manly made 129 with James Arnold taking 5-13, Alex Clegg 2-22, and Matthew Burg, 2-24, defeating Sutherland 124 with Angus Fallins not out on 27.
In fifth grade, Manly made 198, and Steve Milliken took 5-39, Pat Driscoll 2-25 and Steve Kourouche 2-42.
Sutherland were dismissed for 140 with James Hoy top-scoring on 51 and Callum Weatherall getting 21.
Saints defeated Sydney University on Saturday.
Sydney University made 233 and Saints were 7-237 with skipper Trent Copeland not out on 67.
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