Sparsholt took the Southern Premier League Division 2 title by storm last season, winning 15 successive matches.
But life in Division 1 gets a whole lot tougher when Sarisbury Athletic, one of the fancied sides, pitch up at the Norman Edwards Ground.
Sarisbury gave Bournemouth a real run for their money last summer, finishing runners-up and with virtually the same personnel expect to challenge again this term.
Sparsholt: Frith, Howarth, Banks, Perrin, Mitchell, Weir, C Doran, L Doran, O’Brien, Taylor, Whiting, Vokes
Sarisbury Athletic: Rawlins, Mills, Floyd, Clouting, Nightingale, J Hill, Sanders, Wright, Kitcher, S Hill, Jewell.
Ideally, Calmore Sports and Hook & Newnham Basics would have preferred to avoid playing each other on the opening day, but they go toe-to-toe at Loperwood Park.
Both sides have boosted their armoury in the close season, with Calmore adding Australian Will McNeil (Parkdale, Victoria) to their squad, alongside Charlie Dent. Liam Carty is injured.
Hook parade former Basingstoke & North Hants seamer Martyn James and ex-Paultons bowler Jack Murrell.
Calmore Sports: Lavelle, Moss, Johns, Gent, Manning, McNeil, Perry, Vann, Taylor, Wright, Croft.
Hook & Newnham Basics: J Buckingham, Wilcock, Thomson, Bruin, M Buckingham, Franklin, James, Murrell, Brewer, Shore, Divecha.
Ventnor are without captain Chris Russell at Andover, while newly promoted Rowledge must make do without all-rounder Jake Wish, studying in Belgium, for their visit to Old Tauntonians & Romsey.
Rowledge: B Wish, Yates Jnr, R Yates, Wilson, Board, Lloyd, S Martin, Plater, Baker, Ryman, Forbes.
Portsmouth will have Melville all-rounder Fraser Hay, fresh from a successful winter in the WACA pennant competition, available for the whole season. He plays against relegated New Milton at St Helen’s.
But life in Division 1 gets a whole lot tougher when Sarisbury Athletic, one of the fancied sides, pitch up at the Norman Edwards Ground.
Sarisbury gave Bournemouth a real run for their money last summer, finishing runners-up and with virtually the same personnel expect to challenge again this term.
Sparsholt: Frith, Howarth, Banks, Perrin, Mitchell, Weir, C Doran, L Doran, O’Brien, Taylor, Whiting, Vokes
Sarisbury Athletic: Rawlins, Mills, Floyd, Clouting, Nightingale, J Hill, Sanders, Wright, Kitcher, S Hill, Jewell.
Ideally, Calmore Sports and Hook & Newnham Basics would have preferred to avoid playing each other on the opening day, but they go toe-to-toe at Loperwood Park.
Both sides have boosted their armoury in the close season, with Calmore adding Australian Will McNeil (Parkdale, Victoria) to their squad, alongside Charlie Dent. Liam Carty is injured.
Hook parade former Basingstoke & North Hants seamer Martyn James and ex-Paultons bowler Jack Murrell.
Calmore Sports: Lavelle, Moss, Johns, Gent, Manning, McNeil, Perry, Vann, Taylor, Wright, Croft.
Hook & Newnham Basics: J Buckingham, Wilcock, Thomson, Bruin, M Buckingham, Franklin, James, Murrell, Brewer, Shore, Divecha.
Ventnor are without captain Chris Russell at Andover, while newly promoted Rowledge must make do without all-rounder Jake Wish, studying in Belgium, for their visit to Old Tauntonians & Romsey.
Rowledge: B Wish, Yates Jnr, R Yates, Wilson, Board, Lloyd, S Martin, Plater, Baker, Ryman, Forbes.
Portsmouth will have Melville all-rounder Fraser Hay, fresh from a successful winter in the WACA pennant competition, available for the whole season. He plays against relegated New Milton at St Helen’s.