It’s becoming increasingly tight at the top of Southern Premier Division 1, with only three points separating leaders Rowledge from Calmore Sports, and Sarisbury Athletic a mere 11 points off the top after winning four of their last five matches.
It’s top v bottom when Rowledge – minus influential left-arm spinner Oli Baker- host a Liphook & Ripsley side that’s picked up only one win bonus all season. Will Ryman comes in.
Rowledge’s talented youngsters continue to shine, particularly in the middle-order, and skipper Ben Wish may be tempted to reshuffle the top order pack at School Road.
Rowledge: B Wish, Seeborn, Le Roux, Yates, O Ryman, Littlewood, W Ryman, J Wish, Lloyd, Harvey, Forbes.
Calmore Sports will expect left-armer Steve Wright to be rusty after a three-match absence and Ben Fisher jaded after a tiring drawn Varsity Match – he won his Oxford Blue against Cambridge in midweek – ahead of a potentially testing visit to Alton, who lie fourth.
Alton: Harris, Gonella, Heffernan MJ, Myers, Heffernan MP, South, Egleston, Gadsby, Paul, Walters, Footit
Calmore Sports: Bailey, Carty, Fisher, Johns, Johnson, Lavelle, Manning, Metcalfe, Moss, Perry, Wright.
Basingstoke & North Hants won their first match under Joe Oates against Alton last week, but visiting third placed Sarisbury Athletic will be far more testing even though skipper Josh Hill is missing.
Cam Grierson, Tom Mills and Jordan Wright all return, while Matt Journeaux, just flown in from the Emirates, is on stand by in case Phil Jewell fails a fitness test.
Sarisbury Athletic: Rawlins, Grierson, Floyd, Mills, Lovett, Feltham, Franklin, DeGrussa, Wright, S Hill, Jewell.
Ventnor have lost three of their last four matches but will offer a long, hot afternoon in the Steephill bowl to George Watts if the New Milton skipper loses the toss.
Sri Lankan Dineth Thimodya looks to extend his 499-run tally, but New Milton’s Toby Edwards will be licking his lips when he sees Ventnor’s short boundary, so the botanical gardens could come under fire.
New Milton: Watts, Edwards, L Beck, Griffiths, Adams, J Wooster, R Beck, Hall, E Wooster, Bartlett, Tomkins.
Portsmouth expected to be among the front runners in SPL1 this term, but their form has been indifferent culminating in five defeats from nine outings. Sparsholt, heartened by their tie at Rowledge last week, visit Southsea seafront.
It’s top v bottom when Rowledge – minus influential left-arm spinner Oli Baker- host a Liphook & Ripsley side that’s picked up only one win bonus all season. Will Ryman comes in.
Rowledge’s talented youngsters continue to shine, particularly in the middle-order, and skipper Ben Wish may be tempted to reshuffle the top order pack at School Road.
Rowledge: B Wish, Seeborn, Le Roux, Yates, O Ryman, Littlewood, W Ryman, J Wish, Lloyd, Harvey, Forbes.
Calmore Sports will expect left-armer Steve Wright to be rusty after a three-match absence and Ben Fisher jaded after a tiring drawn Varsity Match – he won his Oxford Blue against Cambridge in midweek – ahead of a potentially testing visit to Alton, who lie fourth.
Alton: Harris, Gonella, Heffernan MJ, Myers, Heffernan MP, South, Egleston, Gadsby, Paul, Walters, Footit
Calmore Sports: Bailey, Carty, Fisher, Johns, Johnson, Lavelle, Manning, Metcalfe, Moss, Perry, Wright.
Basingstoke & North Hants won their first match under Joe Oates against Alton last week, but visiting third placed Sarisbury Athletic will be far more testing even though skipper Josh Hill is missing.
Cam Grierson, Tom Mills and Jordan Wright all return, while Matt Journeaux, just flown in from the Emirates, is on stand by in case Phil Jewell fails a fitness test.
Sarisbury Athletic: Rawlins, Grierson, Floyd, Mills, Lovett, Feltham, Franklin, DeGrussa, Wright, S Hill, Jewell.
Ventnor have lost three of their last four matches but will offer a long, hot afternoon in the Steephill bowl to George Watts if the New Milton skipper loses the toss.
Sri Lankan Dineth Thimodya looks to extend his 499-run tally, but New Milton’s Toby Edwards will be licking his lips when he sees Ventnor’s short boundary, so the botanical gardens could come under fire.
New Milton: Watts, Edwards, L Beck, Griffiths, Adams, J Wooster, R Beck, Hall, E Wooster, Bartlett, Tomkins.
Portsmouth expected to be among the front runners in SPL1 this term, but their form has been indifferent culminating in five defeats from nine outings. Sparsholt, heartened by their tie at Rowledge last week, visit Southsea seafront.