Otago have to find a way to stitch together their promising moments.
They also have to find a new wicketkeeper and captain before the next Plunket Shield assignment.
Max Chu is skipping the rest of the season to have a groin operation. More on that later.
The review from the 171-run loss to Wellington at the Basin Reserve last week was honest.
Coach Ashley Noffke was not hiding his disappointment.
"We were a long way off the pace with the bat and ball, to be honest," he said yesterday.
"We had some really great [individual] performances," he added.
Matthew Bacon claimed a five-wicket bag in the first innings.
Thorn Parkes showed some backbone, getting through to 97 not out.
And Llew Johnson did his best to salvage a draw with an unbeaten 80.
But there were too many of those other types of moments.
"That was definitely crucial. We just didn’t bowl well enough [at the end of Wellington’s first innings].
"We didn’t hold pressure at both ends, we bowled too many four balls and bowled too wide.
"We had the right plans but the guys weren’t able to deliver them.
"Our bowling group has been on the right track.
"But they know they’ve got to be a little bit more consistent than what they’re doing."
Wellington were in control for most of the match.
The home team built a useful 72-run first innings lead and got through to 316 for eight declared in their second knock.
That left Otago needing 389 to win, which proved too many.
Johnson ducked and weaved and clogged up one end in a desperate bid to secure a draw.
It arguably cost him an opportunity at a century.
He put his personal ambition on the backburner and played the kind of innings that ingratiates you with the selectors rather than the statisticians.
Despite his efforts, the Volts were rolled for 217.
Pace bowler Logan van Beek nabbed four for 56 and wrist spinner Peter Younghusband took three for 68.
Otago opener Dale Phillips looked like he got a stinker of a decision to get out for 29.
But the reality is the visitors were comprehensively outplayed.
Otago’s next first-class fixture is against Central Districts in Alexander.
That game begins on Thursday.
"[Realistically] we’re out of the Plunket Shield running, but we have an opportunity to work out the style of cricket we want to play and how we want to build around each other.
"So we’ve got a great opportunity to grow."
Otago will get an opportunity to develop some players.
Chu has been struggling with a groin injury all year and the decision has been made for the Volts stand-in skipper to have an operation.
He will miss the rest of the season, which means Otago will need to find a new gloveman.
Brad Kneebone and Sebastian Lauderdale-Smith have shared the gloves for Otago A this season, but Taieri keeper Cameron Jackson is another option.
Kneebone filled in for Chu when he suffered a concussion against Canterbury in December.
Regular captain and all-rounder Luke Georgeson is still sidelined with injury, so the Volts will need a new skipper as well.
Dean Foxcroft captained the team last year and Phillips might be an option.
Northern Districts (66 points) beat Canterbury (57) by 54 runs in Hamilton and they lead the Plunket Shield standings.
Wellington (58) climbed into second with their win over Otago.
Auckland (36) and Central Districts (53) had to settle for a draw at Eden Park Outer Oval.
Otago (28) are in last place with three games remaining.
Wellington
First innings: 355
Otago
First innings: 283
Wellington
Second innings: 316
Otago
J Cumming b Dudding 3
D Phillips c Mycock b van Beek 29
M Bacon b van Beek 14
L Carter c Snedden b van Beek 13
D Foxcroft lbw Abbas 5
T Parkes c Blundell b Dudding 30
L Johnson not out 80
M Chu c&b Younghusband 2
T Muller b Younghusband 14
A Hazeldine c Robinson b van Beek 5
J McKay lbw Younghusband 1
Extras (lb 9, w 5, nb 7) 21
Total (all out, 74.2 overs) 217
Fall: 1-9, 2-34, 3-49, 4-60, 5-64, 6-125, 7-140, 8-180, 9-216, 10-217.
Bowlers: L van Beek 20-7-56-4 (1w), L Dudding 13-2-33-2, M Abbas 8-2-15-1, M Snedden 11-4-27-0 (4w, 3nb), P Younghusband 19.2-6-68-3 (4nb), J Tashkoff 3-0-9-0.
Result: Wellington won by 171 runs.
