Beavers captain David Tucker has demanded his side return to its early form to regain some respect in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association (WDCA) division one competition.

After posting four wins and two losses before the Christmas break, Wesley was rejoicing in its comeback to the top grade.

But the promoted side has dropped all three matches since. “We had a really good start, better than expected,” Tucker said.

“Maybe we got a bit ahead of ourselves because we’ve been really poor after Christmas.

“It’s been a season of two halves.”

Tucker acknowledged Wesley’s most recent losses were against the handy opponents of Allansford, West Warrnambool and Merrivale.

“But the manner in which we’ve lost has been really disappointing,” he said.

“We haven’t even been competitive.”

The seventh-ranked Beavers host sixth-side Dennington at Walter Oval today for the first afternoon of a two-day program.

It is a winnable match for Wesley, as are its round 11 and 12 encounters against Russells Creek and Port Fairy.

“We’ve looked at our last three games and we wouldn’t be happy with anything less than three wins,” Tucker said.

“But we have to put 80-over performances together.”

Last round’s loss to Merrivale was marred by eight dropped catches and an underachieving top order.

“We need to work on our fielding and we need to make runs,” Tucker said.

“Otherwise we’re putting too much pressure on our bowlers.”

Tucker said he could rely on opening bat Ryan McArdle and young bowling brothers Mitch and Tom Bowman to give “100 per cent” today.

Meanwhile, he rates Dennington captain Dustin Drew as one of the best players in the association and, accordingly, will give him plenty of attention.

“If he plays well, the rest of his team tends to do the same,” Tucker said.

In other matches, top side Nestles hosts fifth-placed Woodford and fourth-ranked Allansford welcomes second side Merrivale.

Russells Creek faces West Warrnambool, while Port Fairy will strive for its second win of the season against the winless Brierly Christ Church.