HOOK and Newnham Basics will be out to keep the pressure on Southern Electric Premier Division One leaders New Milton this weekend, ahead of what looks set to be the title decider between the two sides next Saturday.
Hook are currently seven points behind their New Forest rivals with three games left in the season and they face a tricky trip to Liphook and Ripsley this weekend.
Meanwhile, leaders New Milton also have a tough away game, as they travel to May’s Bounty to face third-placed Basingstoke and North Hants.
Hook are set to be unchanged for the third week running, and are playing really well as a unit at the moment.
They have won their last four games, brushing aside local rivals Hartley Wintney and Basingstoke in recent weeks to give their title hopes a massive boost.
Confidence is high in the camp and in their last game, against the Bountymen, Spencer Champ set the tone with a superb opening 10-over spell which saw him take four wickets for the concession of just six runs.
He is now the leading wicket taker in division, with 36 scalps to his name from 13 games.
However, Hook will not be taking Liphook for granted, despite the fact that the first meeting between the sides was a very one-sided affair, Hook cruising to an easy victory.
BASINGSTOKE and North Hants captain Chris Froud is hoping his side can find some form with the bat, after scoring barely any runs in back-to-back SPL1 games.
Last week, they were bowled out for 102 at Hook, having only made 128 at Andover the previous week.
They return to May’s Bounty to face leaders New Milton and when these sides last met in the New Forest, scoring runs was a real issue for New Milton as they were bowled out for 48.
Martyn James took 6-23 and was well supported by Chris Chandler (4-24).
Chris Froud hit 25 in Basingstoke’s winning total of 49-3, but since then, the leaders have not lost a game.
They rarely score 200, but they never need to as they bowl teams out, which could be a problem for the Bountymen if they bat first for the third week running.
Last weekend, against Hook, Basingstoke tried to shuffle their order around with Chris Chandler promoted to open with Richard Vinn. However, they were soon in trouble at 38-5, twice losing wickets in clusters.
This is a problem that captain Chris Froud is only too aware of.
“At the moment, we seem unable to score runs and also seem to lose wickets in quick succession,” he said. “The top three are not getting any runs and then the pressure is on the rest of the team.
“We know that as individuals, we have to do better, but we have to make it happen out in the centre.”
Froud added: “The loss against Hook means we can no longer win the title and so the pressure is off us for the rest of the season.
“This could well help and also gives us the chance to call up other players into the first team for the final three games.
“This is something I am sure will discuss at our selection meeting this week.”
Looking ahead to a visit from the league leaders, Froud said: “I am sure it will not be the same as the last game against New Milton.
“They will come here with something to prove and with the title race so close, they need to win.
Hartley Wintney face their biggest game of the season so far on Saturday as they travel to Southern League Division One relegation rivals Totton and Eling.
The village side’s plight in the bottom two was not helped last week, when they were docked five points for playing an unregistered player in a previous game.
As a result, they are now 18 points behind Totton in eighth spot and 22 adrift of Rowledge in seventh.
This weekend, the bottom four all play each other, with basement side Calmore Sports entertaining Rowledge, while Hartley travel to Totton.
On paper, the odds are stacked against Hartley, as they have lost their last six, while Totton will be looking to extend their winning run to three after victories over Bournemouth and Calmore Sports.
The village side will take heart from their performance last weekend, which saw them narrowly beaten by Liphook and Ripsley, losing by just one wicket.
Wins over Bournemouth and Calmore Sports in the past two weeks have hauled the Eels out of the immediate danger zone and opened up an 18-point safety gap.
Skipper Richard Dibden dashes back from a family holiday in Cornwall to lead his side, but Jamie Teale, Hartley Wintney’s former captain, has been banned for six matches by the Premier League and will not play again until mid-May 2016.
Totton & Eling: Dibden, Arnold, Beresford, Metcalfe, Jenkin, Perrin, Mooney, Taylor, Ennew, Thomason, Hamid
Totton’s revival is bad news for Calmore Sports, who lie bottom of the pile and who will almost certainly be relegated if they lose at Rowledge, who are also in captaincy turmoil.
Influential all-rounder David Lloyd quit after seven years at the Rowledge helm this week and is replaced by young wicketkeeper Ben Wish, his vice-captain.
Rowledge: Davies, Morant, B Wish, Lloyd, Board, Bloomfield, Gleave, Metcalfe, Forbes, Keeley, Yates snr
OTs & Romsey take a six point lead over Portsmouth into their derby with Paultons, who have lost their last eight Southern Electric Premier Division 2 matches. But a broken nose sidelines Hampshire’s Chris Wood. Portsmouth look to make up some leeway when Hambledon visit Southsea seafront, while Fawley host Tichborne Park, who have lost their last two games. Third placed Bashley (Rydal) II visit relegation bound Langley Manor.
Hook are currently seven points behind their New Forest rivals with three games left in the season and they face a tricky trip to Liphook and Ripsley this weekend.
Meanwhile, leaders New Milton also have a tough away game, as they travel to May’s Bounty to face third-placed Basingstoke and North Hants.
Hook are set to be unchanged for the third week running, and are playing really well as a unit at the moment.
They have won their last four games, brushing aside local rivals Hartley Wintney and Basingstoke in recent weeks to give their title hopes a massive boost.
Confidence is high in the camp and in their last game, against the Bountymen, Spencer Champ set the tone with a superb opening 10-over spell which saw him take four wickets for the concession of just six runs.
He is now the leading wicket taker in division, with 36 scalps to his name from 13 games.
However, Hook will not be taking Liphook for granted, despite the fact that the first meeting between the sides was a very one-sided affair, Hook cruising to an easy victory.
BASINGSTOKE and North Hants captain Chris Froud is hoping his side can find some form with the bat, after scoring barely any runs in back-to-back SPL1 games.
Last week, they were bowled out for 102 at Hook, having only made 128 at Andover the previous week.
They return to May’s Bounty to face leaders New Milton and when these sides last met in the New Forest, scoring runs was a real issue for New Milton as they were bowled out for 48.
Martyn James took 6-23 and was well supported by Chris Chandler (4-24).
Chris Froud hit 25 in Basingstoke’s winning total of 49-3, but since then, the leaders have not lost a game.
They rarely score 200, but they never need to as they bowl teams out, which could be a problem for the Bountymen if they bat first for the third week running.
Last weekend, against Hook, Basingstoke tried to shuffle their order around with Chris Chandler promoted to open with Richard Vinn. However, they were soon in trouble at 38-5, twice losing wickets in clusters.
This is a problem that captain Chris Froud is only too aware of.
“At the moment, we seem unable to score runs and also seem to lose wickets in quick succession,” he said. “The top three are not getting any runs and then the pressure is on the rest of the team.
“We know that as individuals, we have to do better, but we have to make it happen out in the centre.”
Froud added: “The loss against Hook means we can no longer win the title and so the pressure is off us for the rest of the season.
“This could well help and also gives us the chance to call up other players into the first team for the final three games.
“This is something I am sure will discuss at our selection meeting this week.”
Looking ahead to a visit from the league leaders, Froud said: “I am sure it will not be the same as the last game against New Milton.
“They will come here with something to prove and with the title race so close, they need to win.
Hartley Wintney face their biggest game of the season so far on Saturday as they travel to Southern League Division One relegation rivals Totton and Eling.
The village side’s plight in the bottom two was not helped last week, when they were docked five points for playing an unregistered player in a previous game.
As a result, they are now 18 points behind Totton in eighth spot and 22 adrift of Rowledge in seventh.
This weekend, the bottom four all play each other, with basement side Calmore Sports entertaining Rowledge, while Hartley travel to Totton.
On paper, the odds are stacked against Hartley, as they have lost their last six, while Totton will be looking to extend their winning run to three after victories over Bournemouth and Calmore Sports.
The village side will take heart from their performance last weekend, which saw them narrowly beaten by Liphook and Ripsley, losing by just one wicket.
Wins over Bournemouth and Calmore Sports in the past two weeks have hauled the Eels out of the immediate danger zone and opened up an 18-point safety gap.
Skipper Richard Dibden dashes back from a family holiday in Cornwall to lead his side, but Jamie Teale, Hartley Wintney’s former captain, has been banned for six matches by the Premier League and will not play again until mid-May 2016.
Totton & Eling: Dibden, Arnold, Beresford, Metcalfe, Jenkin, Perrin, Mooney, Taylor, Ennew, Thomason, Hamid
Totton’s revival is bad news for Calmore Sports, who lie bottom of the pile and who will almost certainly be relegated if they lose at Rowledge, who are also in captaincy turmoil.
Influential all-rounder David Lloyd quit after seven years at the Rowledge helm this week and is replaced by young wicketkeeper Ben Wish, his vice-captain.
Rowledge: Davies, Morant, B Wish, Lloyd, Board, Bloomfield, Gleave, Metcalfe, Forbes, Keeley, Yates snr
OTs & Romsey take a six point lead over Portsmouth into their derby with Paultons, who have lost their last eight Southern Electric Premier Division 2 matches. But a broken nose sidelines Hampshire’s Chris Wood. Portsmouth look to make up some leeway when Hambledon visit Southsea seafront, while Fawley host Tichborne Park, who have lost their last two games. Third placed Bashley (Rydal) II visit relegation bound Langley Manor.