The Otago Volts have had plenty of those lately.
Otago tried hard on Saturday against Canterbury at the University Oval, overcoming a poor start to post a reasonable total.
The players then threw themselves around in the field and tried things at the bowling crease.
But often effort in professional sport does not lead to reward. Execution and a hard-nosed attitude do.
The bowling was simply not good enough from Otago and the visiting side was always in control.
It had 100 up in the 17th over and needed just 73 off the final 20 overs.
The red and blacks did it with ease, winning by eight wickets as they reached the target of 255 with more than five overs to spare. Canterbury won on the back of a century from opener Chad Bowes, the former South African under-19 captain scoring a classy 112.
He was nearly caught when on 18, but Shaun Hicks grassed the chance as he reached up high but just could not hold the ball.
That was the story of Otago’s fielding display. Plenty of effort and some good energy but just not getting the job done.
Captain Rob Nicol said after the game the side had battled well and had a defendable target but the bowling let it down.
"All the way through we did not pull them back at any one time. I think we went for fives in most of the overs until the back end of 30 [overs]," Nicol said.
"That is what we have been talking about — our method is to bowl our best ball. Whether that is length or a change-up that is irrelevant. It is our best ball and we did not execute that on any point.
"We just could not get anything going in the field as a by-product of that."
Otago had got into early trouble after winning the toss and deciding to bat. It lost its fourth wicket within the opening 20 overs with just 62 on the board.
But Neil Broom and Jimmy Neesham came together and carved out a 114 run partnership, taking the impetus back from Canterbury.
They both hit the ball cleanly against a quality Canterbury attack.
Nicol said the duo had been fighting hard and they were top knocks but unfortunately they did not lead to a win.
"That was a mighty effort from them. Those two guys have been battling for a period of time and them coming back and producing something like that, which could have been a match winner. It is disappointing."
Nicol said the side now had to win two out of the last four games in the Ford Trophy to make the semifinals.
He said the side needed to be consistent in all facets of the game.
"We just need to keep working hard on things ... it is just about having that attitude around things like I’m going to bowl my best ball, being fully focused."
In other games, the Central Stags beat Auckland by 123 runs in Auckland while Northern Districts downed Wellington by four wickets in Wellington.
Otago plays Wellington in the capital on Wednesday.
