At the Christmas-New Year break, the Jets and Goers have clearly been the two biggest success stories so far in the 2014-15 campaign.

A 5-3 record has Strathfieldsaye in fourth place on the ladder.

Last Saturday's one-run victory against Sandhurst may yet prove to be one of the team's most signficant results of the summer.

The Jets cannot afford to cruise as Bendigo is on the march.

Bendigo's superb play to reach the Twenty20 final to be played during next month's Bendigo Bank Country Cricket Week carnival has transcended to the two-day and one-day contests.

The Goers again had many contributors in their latest victory by four wickets on Golden Square's turf.

In this season's play there have been standout performances by several of Strathfieldsaye's and Bendigo's key players.

Strathfieldsaye captain Ben Devanny is well on track for back-to-back BDCA Cricketer of the Year awards.

In eight matches, the Jets' star has scored 507 runs and captured 18 wickets.

The play of Cory Devanny, 19 wickets; coach and key batsman Greg Lyon, 266 runs, has set up several of Strathfieldsaye's wins.

Strathfieldsaye has shown it just does not rely on those three players to claim premiership points.

The same applies for Bendigo which has a great mix of experience and talented youngsters who gain confidence from every game they play.

After missing a large chunk of last season because of injury, Nathan Fitzpatrick has again shown why he is one of the most promising all-rounders in the BDCA.

Fitzpatrick has captured 16 wickets and scored 283 runs.

Alex Pearson (pictured) has taken 16 wickets; while Mark Ryan, 196 runs; Mitch Blackman, 182; and Kyle Chant, 171; are in form.

Any batting order that includes the hard-hitting Marcus McKern, who is Bendigo's captain, must be respected.

The ability to handle pressure, as well as apply it, will be a great test for the Jets and Goers as they fight to hold or gain a place in the finals when the season resumes on January 17.

Although they have three-five records, the finals aspirations of Huntly-North Epsom, Golden Square and White Hills are far from over.

Kangaroo Flat and Sandhurst are at the foot of the ladder, but both have shown they are far from easybeats.

The Roos were narrowly beaten by the highly-rated Strathdale-Maristians, second; and Eaglehawk, third, in their past two hit-outs.

As summer rolls on, Sandhurst may rue several games where it was beaten by narrow margins after being in control.