THEY went through last season unbeaten to win a league and cup double but Marehay always knew life would be different in the Beechwood Mazda Derbyshire Premier League.
So it has proved, as they sit second bottom after four matches, with a winning draw against Spondon the best of their results, set against two defeats and last weekend's rain-ruined match.
But captain Richard Wood maintains that confidence remains high in the camp as they prepare for tomorrow's away game against unpredictable Alvaston & Boulton.
"We expected this – we knew we were going to have our work cut out," said Wood.
"But we're still quite confident that we can hold our own in the division.
"We're still thinking in terms of more than surviving, although we don't expect to be challenging for the title this time.
"We've had a wake-up call in the games so far.
"We've tried to carry on what we were doing last season.
"We bat positively and we attack with the ball but we've got to realise that the bowling is probably a bit better in the Premier League – there is certainly more depth to the teams."
Wood says the lesson was amply illustrated in their opening day loss to Ockbrook & Borrowash, as they set off in pursuit of Ockbrook's 261-7 but were bowled out for 215 as the bottom order melted away to the spin of Australian Josh Clarke.
"We were in a good position against Ockbrook," said Wood, whose side were 130-3 at one point in the chase.
"But there came a point where we should have taken our foot off the gas and saved some points – instead, we kept going for it and got bowled out.
"But we're learning. We just lacked a little application in the first few games."
Marehay were well beaten by champions Swarkestone but will hardly be alone in that.
But they outplayed Spondon and had started well with the bat against Denby when it rained on Saturday.
Opening bat Martin Camm, who has been working in India for two years, returned to the first team after starting with two centuries in three innings for the second team.
Wood feels Camm's return will add stability at the top of the order, where they have lost Jon Bradder to a broken finger sustained dropping a catch.
All-rounder Ben Perry-Taylor is also back in the side after suspension.
