Having ended South Wilts’ four-year stranglehold on the British Gas Southern Premier League championship, Havant realise they will be the team to beat this season.
They’re not resting on their laurels and have signed up Hampshire’s former England Under-19 captain Brad Taylor and 2nd XI and county second team hopeful Josh McCoy, who spent his formative years with nearby Purbrook.
“We know teams will be gunning for us this year (being the defending champions), but we’ve been able to bring in a couple of very good players, so the aim is to match or better last season’s success,” says vice-captain Andy Gorvin, one of several Havant players who will be travelling ‘home’ for their cricket this summer.
Gorvin is in his fresher year at Cardiff and will return to Havant each weekend, as will city based duo Rob Gibson and Chris Morgan who, like Gorvin, cut their teeth in cricket at Portsmouth Grammar School.
With all of last season’s title winning side available again (save Australian left-arm spinner Tom Vanderslik, who is back in his native Melbourne), Havant will begin favourites when their championship defence begins against Alton on Saturday.
Their batting again looks strong and with Taylor’s off-spin complimenting that of Richard Hindley and Morgan, visiting opponents can expect a few Havant Park ‘turners’ to come their way.
Skipper Ben Walker, Gorvin and Taylor all made runs in a white ball warm-up against Hampshire Under-17s last weekend, and were all in action as Havant stepped up their impending title defence with a May Bank Holiday weekend in Gloucestershire against West of England Premier League powermen Frocester.
They’re not resting on their laurels and have signed up Hampshire’s former England Under-19 captain Brad Taylor and 2nd XI and county second team hopeful Josh McCoy, who spent his formative years with nearby Purbrook.
“We know teams will be gunning for us this year (being the defending champions), but we’ve been able to bring in a couple of very good players, so the aim is to match or better last season’s success,” says vice-captain Andy Gorvin, one of several Havant players who will be travelling ‘home’ for their cricket this summer.
Gorvin is in his fresher year at Cardiff and will return to Havant each weekend, as will city based duo Rob Gibson and Chris Morgan who, like Gorvin, cut their teeth in cricket at Portsmouth Grammar School.
With all of last season’s title winning side available again (save Australian left-arm spinner Tom Vanderslik, who is back in his native Melbourne), Havant will begin favourites when their championship defence begins against Alton on Saturday.
Their batting again looks strong and with Taylor’s off-spin complimenting that of Richard Hindley and Morgan, visiting opponents can expect a few Havant Park ‘turners’ to come their way.
Skipper Ben Walker, Gorvin and Taylor all made runs in a white ball warm-up against Hampshire Under-17s last weekend, and were all in action as Havant stepped up their impending title defence with a May Bank Holiday weekend in Gloucestershire against West of England Premier League powermen Frocester.
