Little more than 12 months ago, Bashley (Rydal beat Bournemouth at Chapel Gate to secure the ECB Southern Premier League championship for the first time.
How ironic then that, a year and a bit on, the roles are reversed with the Lions having to go to Bashley - and win - to finish top of the 40-over League Cup West group.
And win at the BCG they must, because if Bashley beat them, top place will probably go to St Cross Symondians, if they beat Rowledge at the Green Jackets.
Eleven points separate the top four West group places going into the final round of matches which also see South Wilts visiting rock bottom Andover.
Rounding the matches up (to six each), Bournemouth have 106 points, St Cross Symondians 101, South Wilts 98, with Bashley (Rydal) on 95.
Bournemouth have won all five matches since being crushed by St Cross Symondians in their opening game back on July 18, though they’ve sailed close to the wind in their last two victories over Lymington and New Milton.
They make one change for the visit to the BCG with opener Sam Collins returning. No surprise teenager Ollie Breckon retaining his place after his career-best 6-16 at Fernhill.
Ben Walker is back to beef up Bashley’s top order, but left-arm spinner Dom Clutterbuck has landed a sports coaching role at Bishop's Stortford School, where one of his scholars is the son of a world famous rock star (any ideas ?), so won’t be playing against his old club.
Bashley are also assessing Josh Digby, who badly bruised an index finger attempting a return catch off a fierce straight drive from South Wilts’ batsman Raff Hussey last week.
“A lot of players wouldn’t have gone for it, the ball was struck so hard,” revealed Bashley captain Michael Porter. “Credit to Josh, he’s clearly made of tough stuff and will be on hand early to do the catching drills.”
Porter was almost apologetic about having to leave twin opener James Turner out of the side.
“It unfortunate as James had an encouraging game at South Wilts last week, but Ben Walker’s experience and quality is a key component for us, so we had no choice but to leave him out,” he explained.
Bashley (Rydal): Jacques, A Turner, B Walker, Porter, Fisher, Gordon, Digby, G Wilson, B Currie, Crisp, Fletcher.
Bournemouth: N Park, Robinson, Collins, Davies, Matthews, C Park, Pack, Hurley, Breckon, Mixer, Conway.
As usual, second placed St Cross Symondians – away to New Milton - keep their team selection under wraps, but South Wilts are without James Hayward and Jack Mynott for the A303 derby with Andover at London Road.
Ben Draper has rushed home from a Snowdonia holiday to play and is relieved that teenage left-hander Jack Stearman is fit after turning his ankle in a fielding accident at Bemerton last week.
Teenage left-arm quick Josh Croom, who has been training with the Australia t20 squad at the Ageas Bowl, will spice up a lively pace attack.
South Wilts: Draper, Morton, Stearman, Hussey, Rowe, Grant, Warner, Wade, Croom, Lewis, Burton.
Lymington, with only one win in five, have come up with a novel idea of curing their shortage of runs by naming 12 players for the last day game with Totton & Eling at Southern Gardens.
They won’t all be able to play, of course, but young skipper Josh Royan is hopeful that island journeyman Josh Proctor will play after turning out for Northwood in the All Wight League in recent weeks.
Lymington: Royan, D Bailey, J Bailey, Robertson, Tollerfield, Freeman, Crabb, Layman, Proctor, Scott, Schreuder, Sykes.
How ironic then that, a year and a bit on, the roles are reversed with the Lions having to go to Bashley - and win - to finish top of the 40-over League Cup West group.
And win at the BCG they must, because if Bashley beat them, top place will probably go to St Cross Symondians, if they beat Rowledge at the Green Jackets.
Eleven points separate the top four West group places going into the final round of matches which also see South Wilts visiting rock bottom Andover.
Rounding the matches up (to six each), Bournemouth have 106 points, St Cross Symondians 101, South Wilts 98, with Bashley (Rydal) on 95.
Bournemouth have won all five matches since being crushed by St Cross Symondians in their opening game back on July 18, though they’ve sailed close to the wind in their last two victories over Lymington and New Milton.
They make one change for the visit to the BCG with opener Sam Collins returning. No surprise teenager Ollie Breckon retaining his place after his career-best 6-16 at Fernhill.
Ben Walker is back to beef up Bashley’s top order, but left-arm spinner Dom Clutterbuck has landed a sports coaching role at Bishop's Stortford School, where one of his scholars is the son of a world famous rock star (any ideas ?), so won’t be playing against his old club.
Bashley are also assessing Josh Digby, who badly bruised an index finger attempting a return catch off a fierce straight drive from South Wilts’ batsman Raff Hussey last week.
“A lot of players wouldn’t have gone for it, the ball was struck so hard,” revealed Bashley captain Michael Porter. “Credit to Josh, he’s clearly made of tough stuff and will be on hand early to do the catching drills.”
Porter was almost apologetic about having to leave twin opener James Turner out of the side.
“It unfortunate as James had an encouraging game at South Wilts last week, but Ben Walker’s experience and quality is a key component for us, so we had no choice but to leave him out,” he explained.
Bashley (Rydal): Jacques, A Turner, B Walker, Porter, Fisher, Gordon, Digby, G Wilson, B Currie, Crisp, Fletcher.
Bournemouth: N Park, Robinson, Collins, Davies, Matthews, C Park, Pack, Hurley, Breckon, Mixer, Conway.
As usual, second placed St Cross Symondians – away to New Milton - keep their team selection under wraps, but South Wilts are without James Hayward and Jack Mynott for the A303 derby with Andover at London Road.
Ben Draper has rushed home from a Snowdonia holiday to play and is relieved that teenage left-hander Jack Stearman is fit after turning his ankle in a fielding accident at Bemerton last week.
Teenage left-arm quick Josh Croom, who has been training with the Australia t20 squad at the Ageas Bowl, will spice up a lively pace attack.
South Wilts: Draper, Morton, Stearman, Hussey, Rowe, Grant, Warner, Wade, Croom, Lewis, Burton.
Lymington, with only one win in five, have come up with a novel idea of curing their shortage of runs by naming 12 players for the last day game with Totton & Eling at Southern Gardens.
They won’t all be able to play, of course, but young skipper Josh Royan is hopeful that island journeyman Josh Proctor will play after turning out for Northwood in the All Wight League in recent weeks.
Lymington: Royan, D Bailey, J Bailey, Robertson, Tollerfield, Freeman, Crabb, Layman, Proctor, Scott, Schreuder, Sykes.