Trojans are off to a flier in Southern Electric Premier League, Division 3.
Reprieved from relegation at the end of last season when Fair Oak were demoted due to ground issues, Trojans have come out of the traps at speed.
They’ve won their first two games – a five-wicket win over Havant II coming hard on the back of an opening day victory at Totton & Eling.
An unbeaten 118 by Dan Babidge – a first in Premier League cricket – scored during a century stand with in-form Simon Williams (53) set up the Trojans win.
Gareth Ransley (61) top scored for Havant (235-9), with Syed Mahmood taking 3-47.
Totton & Eling II suffered a second consecutive defeat when they failed by 63 runs to overhaul Alton’s 256-9 in a match which saw the comeback of Chris Thomason (38), his first outing in seven seasons.
Gosport Borough are up and running on their return to the Southern Electric Premier League after they edged a tight encounter against St Cross Symondians II.
After defeat in their opening fixture at Havant II last weekend, Borough returned to Privett Park where they were invincible last year on their way to promotion from the Hampshire League.
And they continued that impressive home form with a 14-run success, although skipper Tom Larner felt it should have been more comfortable.
He said: ‘It was a lot tighter than it should have been. ‘We fell over the line, rather than winning comfortably. ‘But it’s given us a lot of confidence. ‘We just fell a bit short in the first game so it was nice to get the win this time.’
Lee Harrop (42) and Blake Maher (47) shared a 60-run stand for the second wicket as Borough eased to 85 for one. But that bright start crumbled to 167 for seven before Charlie Pennicott (32) played a useful knock to drag his team up to 207 for eight.
St Cross were then in big trouble as Matt Johnson (two for 20) turned in a fine spell with six maidens in his 10 overs and Simon Creal (four for 24) also starred.
With the visitors reduced to 96 for seven, it seemed only a matter of time before Gosport sealed victory, even without Conor Regan who was banned for one match for a show of dissent last week.
But a bright innings from Jamie Aldridge at number eight (44) saw his side put on 76 for the ninth wicket, before Borough finally got him out.
Larner said: ‘We thought 207 was a competitive total but we would have liked 20-30 more runs. But then we got straight into them and started off well with the ball.
‘Matt Johnson bowled a fantastic opening spell. Then their number eight started attacking and really gave them a chance. We were getting pretty nervous, especially after losing last week and being in a similar position.
‘If he had been in earlier, the game could have been completely different but he was batting down the order. Once we got him, the last two wickets fell almost straight away. So it was a big relief.’
Waterlooville toasted their second straight win of the new season – even though some of their own players had written off their hopes at the midway point of their clash with Basingstoke & North Hants II.
They were bowled out for 133, but it could have been a lot worse if Tim Jackson (27), skipper Max Goddard (28) and Danny Durant (20 not out) had not led the recovery after they were reduced to 53 for seven.
Durant (3-25) and Sam Hillman (3-31) then did the damage before a later partnership threw the game into doubt, only for Waterlooville to get home by just nine runs. Dean Nurse was left high and dry with an unbeaten 58 in Stoke’s 124 all out.
Goddard said: ‘At half-time, we thought we were gone. But I told the lads that if we got a couple of quick wickets, we were right back in the game. That’s exactly what happened. We bowled fantastically well and took some great slip catches.’
Reprieved from relegation at the end of last season when Fair Oak were demoted due to ground issues, Trojans have come out of the traps at speed.
They’ve won their first two games – a five-wicket win over Havant II coming hard on the back of an opening day victory at Totton & Eling.
An unbeaten 118 by Dan Babidge – a first in Premier League cricket – scored during a century stand with in-form Simon Williams (53) set up the Trojans win.
Gareth Ransley (61) top scored for Havant (235-9), with Syed Mahmood taking 3-47.
Totton & Eling II suffered a second consecutive defeat when they failed by 63 runs to overhaul Alton’s 256-9 in a match which saw the comeback of Chris Thomason (38), his first outing in seven seasons.
Gosport Borough are up and running on their return to the Southern Electric Premier League after they edged a tight encounter against St Cross Symondians II.
After defeat in their opening fixture at Havant II last weekend, Borough returned to Privett Park where they were invincible last year on their way to promotion from the Hampshire League.
And they continued that impressive home form with a 14-run success, although skipper Tom Larner felt it should have been more comfortable.
He said: ‘It was a lot tighter than it should have been. ‘We fell over the line, rather than winning comfortably. ‘But it’s given us a lot of confidence. ‘We just fell a bit short in the first game so it was nice to get the win this time.’
Lee Harrop (42) and Blake Maher (47) shared a 60-run stand for the second wicket as Borough eased to 85 for one. But that bright start crumbled to 167 for seven before Charlie Pennicott (32) played a useful knock to drag his team up to 207 for eight.
St Cross were then in big trouble as Matt Johnson (two for 20) turned in a fine spell with six maidens in his 10 overs and Simon Creal (four for 24) also starred.
With the visitors reduced to 96 for seven, it seemed only a matter of time before Gosport sealed victory, even without Conor Regan who was banned for one match for a show of dissent last week.
But a bright innings from Jamie Aldridge at number eight (44) saw his side put on 76 for the ninth wicket, before Borough finally got him out.
Larner said: ‘We thought 207 was a competitive total but we would have liked 20-30 more runs. But then we got straight into them and started off well with the ball.
‘Matt Johnson bowled a fantastic opening spell. Then their number eight started attacking and really gave them a chance. We were getting pretty nervous, especially after losing last week and being in a similar position.
‘If he had been in earlier, the game could have been completely different but he was batting down the order. Once we got him, the last two wickets fell almost straight away. So it was a big relief.’
Waterlooville toasted their second straight win of the new season – even though some of their own players had written off their hopes at the midway point of their clash with Basingstoke & North Hants II.
They were bowled out for 133, but it could have been a lot worse if Tim Jackson (27), skipper Max Goddard (28) and Danny Durant (20 not out) had not led the recovery after they were reduced to 53 for seven.
Durant (3-25) and Sam Hillman (3-31) then did the damage before a later partnership threw the game into doubt, only for Waterlooville to get home by just nine runs. Dean Nurse was left high and dry with an unbeaten 58 in Stoke’s 124 all out.
Goddard said: ‘At half-time, we thought we were gone. But I told the lads that if we got a couple of quick wickets, we were right back in the game. That’s exactly what happened. We bowled fantastically well and took some great slip catches.’