It’s early to bed tonight for Gosport Borough teens Jacob Harris and Oli Creal as they prepare to create a slice of British Gas Southern League history in tomorrow’s Division 3 visit to relegation haunted Fair Oak.
When 16-year old Harris and Creal, at 14 two years his younger, take the new ball they will form the youngest ever opening attack in an SL or SPL attack. Even the Hampshire Academy have never fielded opening bowlers so young.
‘Ollie has opened the bowling for the second team but this will be the first time he has done it for us. We are sure he will rise to the occasion. He is a good left-arm bowler who can swing the ball a bit,” said Borough vice-captain Lee Harrop, who expects both players to be tucked up in bed by 9.30pm after their hot milk and chocolate digestive biscuits.
It’s a vital game for Oaks, who lie one place off Alton II in the second relegation spot.
Fair Oak: Gwynn, T.Hockenhull, E.Kemp, M.Watson, A.Abbas, R.Oxley, R.Bullough, R.Featherstone, A.Mash, R.Stewart, G.McKenzie
Gosport Borough: Larner, Harrop, Kitchin, Ruffell, S Creal, King, Adams, Harris, Pennecott, Richards, O Creal.
Alton II, buoyed by a recent run of good results, expect to field their strongest available side against promotion chasing Waterlooville at the Jubilee Ground.
All-rounder Jon Hudson insists the Ville need to remain wary – after tossing away promotion two seasons ago they are determined not to make the same mistake again.
‘You are never quite sure what sort of opposition you will come up against when playing a second team,’ said Hudson. ‘‘Alton also have a couple of good wins under their belt, so we will treat them with the proper amount of respect.
‘With five games to go it is very tight at the top. All the teams at the top, however, still have to play each other so there is everything to play for.
‘We just have to aim to be as consistent as we can in the final weeks of the season. A win tomorrow will make it that bit easier but a loss won’t be the end of the world.
Waterlooville: Scutt, Hortle, Reynolds, Jackson, Shepherd, Hudson, Hillman, Goddard, Verma, Rockett, Silva
Ville are 15 points adrift of table topping Basingstoke & North Hants II, who visit Havant Park.
Basingstoke & North Hants II: Chandler, M Harsham, Oliver, Coombs, Oates, Dyer, Vinn, Jolley, Perera, Smith, Harris.
The top two are well clear of third placed Bashley (Rydal) II, who host a Fawley side peering anxiously over its shoulder, only five points above the safety line.
Fawley: A Parratt, C Earl, Leach, Smith, Brown, Freeman, Phillips, Bryers, B Parratt, Rice, Coxall.
Basement side Hursley Park, 17 points adrift, need a win against Purbrook at The Quarters, where Hampshire 50s ace Chris Wheeler comes in to strengthen the middle-order batting.
Hursley Park: Marks, Deacon, Theobold, Branford, Wateridge, Wheeler, Turner, Solanki, Prendergast, Kajendran, Burns.
When 16-year old Harris and Creal, at 14 two years his younger, take the new ball they will form the youngest ever opening attack in an SL or SPL attack. Even the Hampshire Academy have never fielded opening bowlers so young.
‘Ollie has opened the bowling for the second team but this will be the first time he has done it for us. We are sure he will rise to the occasion. He is a good left-arm bowler who can swing the ball a bit,” said Borough vice-captain Lee Harrop, who expects both players to be tucked up in bed by 9.30pm after their hot milk and chocolate digestive biscuits.
It’s a vital game for Oaks, who lie one place off Alton II in the second relegation spot.
Fair Oak: Gwynn, T.Hockenhull, E.Kemp, M.Watson, A.Abbas, R.Oxley, R.Bullough, R.Featherstone, A.Mash, R.Stewart, G.McKenzie
Gosport Borough: Larner, Harrop, Kitchin, Ruffell, S Creal, King, Adams, Harris, Pennecott, Richards, O Creal.
Alton II, buoyed by a recent run of good results, expect to field their strongest available side against promotion chasing Waterlooville at the Jubilee Ground.
All-rounder Jon Hudson insists the Ville need to remain wary – after tossing away promotion two seasons ago they are determined not to make the same mistake again.
‘You are never quite sure what sort of opposition you will come up against when playing a second team,’ said Hudson. ‘‘Alton also have a couple of good wins under their belt, so we will treat them with the proper amount of respect.
‘With five games to go it is very tight at the top. All the teams at the top, however, still have to play each other so there is everything to play for.
‘We just have to aim to be as consistent as we can in the final weeks of the season. A win tomorrow will make it that bit easier but a loss won’t be the end of the world.
Waterlooville: Scutt, Hortle, Reynolds, Jackson, Shepherd, Hudson, Hillman, Goddard, Verma, Rockett, Silva
Ville are 15 points adrift of table topping Basingstoke & North Hants II, who visit Havant Park.
Basingstoke & North Hants II: Chandler, M Harsham, Oliver, Coombs, Oates, Dyer, Vinn, Jolley, Perera, Smith, Harris.
The top two are well clear of third placed Bashley (Rydal) II, who host a Fawley side peering anxiously over its shoulder, only five points above the safety line.
Fawley: A Parratt, C Earl, Leach, Smith, Brown, Freeman, Phillips, Bryers, B Parratt, Rice, Coxall.
Basement side Hursley Park, 17 points adrift, need a win against Purbrook at The Quarters, where Hampshire 50s ace Chris Wheeler comes in to strengthen the middle-order batting.
Hursley Park: Marks, Deacon, Theobold, Branford, Wateridge, Wheeler, Turner, Solanki, Prendergast, Kajendran, Burns.
