Andover captain Matt Hooper has called on his Lions’ players to repeat last year’s end of season form – except this time to save themselves from relegation !
The Lions won four of their last five games last summer to nick the Southern Premier League Division One title off Hook & Newnham Basics at the last minute.
Now Hooper wants them to do show the same spirit – and avert an immediate exit from the Premier Division itself.
All appeared lost before Andover went to table topping Lymington last weekend boasting just two wins from 12 outings.
But, having turned the tables and bowled Lymington off the top with a totally unexpected 83-run victory, Andover now have a chance of staying up.
They successfully defended 170 (Chamika Karunaratne 70) and shot Lymington out for a season’s low 83 – all ten wickets falling for 39 runs after a 44-run start.
They host Alton still looking to narrow a sizeable 28-point gap between the two bottom teams – but if they beat the Brewers and then nail New Milton in the final game of the season then survival was a mathematical possibility.
Hooper, whose six-wicket haul set up the Lymington win, has always had belief in his team, despite ten losses.
“We've always thought we have had enough to stay up and we have really enjoyed testing ourselves against the best in Hampshire,” he said.
“The standard of the Premier Division has been so high this year and we know every team has good players.
“We think we can win the last three but we know that each side has good players that we need to stop.
“Fingers crossed we can do it when it counts, like we did last year!
Andover other remaining match is at Bashley (Rydal) next Saturday.
Alton have to play the Hampshire Academy and Burridge, while New Milton (at leaders South Wilts) finish with St Cross Symondians … and Andover !
Alton are boosted by Michael Heffernan’s return, but make two changes, one behind the stumps.
Andover: M Hooper, Treagus, Arnold, Karunatatne, Ballentine-Dykes, Carr, Dale, Knight, Blackburn, Adams, Veetil
Alton: S Myers, A Hammond, Harris, Myers, Mike Heffernan, H Hammond, Mark Heffernan, Paul, Jamison, J Myers, Salmon, Ballinger
The Lions won four of their last five games last summer to nick the Southern Premier League Division One title off Hook & Newnham Basics at the last minute.
Now Hooper wants them to do show the same spirit – and avert an immediate exit from the Premier Division itself.
All appeared lost before Andover went to table topping Lymington last weekend boasting just two wins from 12 outings.
But, having turned the tables and bowled Lymington off the top with a totally unexpected 83-run victory, Andover now have a chance of staying up.
They successfully defended 170 (Chamika Karunaratne 70) and shot Lymington out for a season’s low 83 – all ten wickets falling for 39 runs after a 44-run start.
They host Alton still looking to narrow a sizeable 28-point gap between the two bottom teams – but if they beat the Brewers and then nail New Milton in the final game of the season then survival was a mathematical possibility.
Hooper, whose six-wicket haul set up the Lymington win, has always had belief in his team, despite ten losses.
“We've always thought we have had enough to stay up and we have really enjoyed testing ourselves against the best in Hampshire,” he said.
“The standard of the Premier Division has been so high this year and we know every team has good players.
“We think we can win the last three but we know that each side has good players that we need to stop.
“Fingers crossed we can do it when it counts, like we did last year!
Andover other remaining match is at Bashley (Rydal) next Saturday.
Alton have to play the Hampshire Academy and Burridge, while New Milton (at leaders South Wilts) finish with St Cross Symondians … and Andover !
Alton are boosted by Michael Heffernan’s return, but make two changes, one behind the stumps.
Andover: M Hooper, Treagus, Arnold, Karunatatne, Ballentine-Dykes, Carr, Dale, Knight, Blackburn, Adams, Veetil
Alton: S Myers, A Hammond, Harris, Myers, Mike Heffernan, H Hammond, Mark Heffernan, Paul, Jamison, J Myers, Salmon, Ballinger
