Five points from Portsmouth’s visit to Loperwood Park today will secure remarkable back-to-back British Gas Southern League championships for Calmore Sports.
After last season’s success when they beat subsequently relegated Tichborne Park to the Division 2 championship, Calmore have set the pace from day one in Premier One.
They have twice slipped up against Basingstoke & North Hants and once in mid-season at Portsmouth.
But 11 wins in 14 matches has given Calmore a healthy 17-point lead over Basingstoke going into the final round of matches.
Skipper Mark Lavelle isn’t getting overawed by the occasion.
“We’re just enjoying the season. We’ve over-achieved, but are just relishing every win we pick up and, but if we get those five points tomorrow, then we might have a celebratory drink or two afterwards,” he chuckled.
Calmore Sports: Lavelle, Cook, Perry, Johns, Manning, Rutter, Proudley, Rose, West, Ducellier, Croft.
Quite where Calmore stand in regards to potential promotion to the Premier Division will depend on their overall pitch markings and youth cricket accreditation credentials, which won’t become known until mid-September.
If Calmore don’t get the green light, the likelihood is the Division 1 runners-up will be promoted.
That puts massive emphasis on the Hook & Newnham Basics-Basingstoke & North Hants derby at the KGV ground.
And how Bournemouth get on in their final match against Sarisbury Athletic at Chapel Gate.
Basically, Basingstoke (who start play four points ahead of Bournemouth) must win at Hook.
If they don’t Bournemouth would nick the runners-up place – provided they beat visiting Sarisbury.
Defeat for both Basingstoke and Bournemouth would let in Hook & Newnham Basics – so there’s everything to play for.
Hook toss teenage gloveman Alex Brown into the fray – he is one of three promising Under-17 year olds in the HNB line-up.
Hook & Newnham Basics: Ben Thane, Matthew Love, Rich Willcock, Nick Willcock, Liam Doran, Alex Brown, Rhodes Franklin, Rupes Armstrong, Aniket Divecha, Shane Brewer, Kevin Poulter
Sarisbury are without Hampshire seconds’ injured Scottish seamer Chris Sole at Bournemouth.
But Ricky Rawlins will want to end the season on a high – his 480-run tally puts him in the frame for a strong push for the divisional batting prize. He’s currently 22 runs behind Bournemouth’s Nick Park.
Sarisbury Athletic: Ricky Rawlins, Josh Hill, Sam Floyd, Toby Mitcheson, Tom Mills, Chris Sanders, Jordan Wright, Jamie Dunn, Dom Sampson, Sam Hill, Phil Jewell.
At the bottom of the table, Ventnor still require another five points to be assured of finishing above second from bottom Rowledge, who host Liphook & Ripsley.
Ventnor entertain relegated Tichborne Park at Newclose, anxious to halt a run of four successive defeats.
Rowledge: B Wish, J Wish, M Martin, S Martin, O Baker, N Morant, T Treble, I Metcalfe, G Keeley, J Randall, D Lloyd.
After last season’s success when they beat subsequently relegated Tichborne Park to the Division 2 championship, Calmore have set the pace from day one in Premier One.
They have twice slipped up against Basingstoke & North Hants and once in mid-season at Portsmouth.
But 11 wins in 14 matches has given Calmore a healthy 17-point lead over Basingstoke going into the final round of matches.
Skipper Mark Lavelle isn’t getting overawed by the occasion.
“We’re just enjoying the season. We’ve over-achieved, but are just relishing every win we pick up and, but if we get those five points tomorrow, then we might have a celebratory drink or two afterwards,” he chuckled.
Calmore Sports: Lavelle, Cook, Perry, Johns, Manning, Rutter, Proudley, Rose, West, Ducellier, Croft.
Quite where Calmore stand in regards to potential promotion to the Premier Division will depend on their overall pitch markings and youth cricket accreditation credentials, which won’t become known until mid-September.
If Calmore don’t get the green light, the likelihood is the Division 1 runners-up will be promoted.
That puts massive emphasis on the Hook & Newnham Basics-Basingstoke & North Hants derby at the KGV ground.
And how Bournemouth get on in their final match against Sarisbury Athletic at Chapel Gate.
Basically, Basingstoke (who start play four points ahead of Bournemouth) must win at Hook.
If they don’t Bournemouth would nick the runners-up place – provided they beat visiting Sarisbury.
Defeat for both Basingstoke and Bournemouth would let in Hook & Newnham Basics – so there’s everything to play for.
Hook toss teenage gloveman Alex Brown into the fray – he is one of three promising Under-17 year olds in the HNB line-up.
Hook & Newnham Basics: Ben Thane, Matthew Love, Rich Willcock, Nick Willcock, Liam Doran, Alex Brown, Rhodes Franklin, Rupes Armstrong, Aniket Divecha, Shane Brewer, Kevin Poulter
Sarisbury are without Hampshire seconds’ injured Scottish seamer Chris Sole at Bournemouth.
But Ricky Rawlins will want to end the season on a high – his 480-run tally puts him in the frame for a strong push for the divisional batting prize. He’s currently 22 runs behind Bournemouth’s Nick Park.
Sarisbury Athletic: Ricky Rawlins, Josh Hill, Sam Floyd, Toby Mitcheson, Tom Mills, Chris Sanders, Jordan Wright, Jamie Dunn, Dom Sampson, Sam Hill, Phil Jewell.
At the bottom of the table, Ventnor still require another five points to be assured of finishing above second from bottom Rowledge, who host Liphook & Ripsley.
Ventnor entertain relegated Tichborne Park at Newclose, anxious to halt a run of four successive defeats.
Rowledge: B Wish, J Wish, M Martin, S Martin, O Baker, N Morant, T Treble, I Metcalfe, G Keeley, J Randall, D Lloyd.
