THERE is more at stake than just bragging rights when Hartley Wintney entertain local rivals Hook and Newham Basics in Southern Electric Premier Division One.
Hook are right in the thick of the battle for promotion as they lie second in the table, while Hartley are frantically trying to move away from the relegation zone as the season enters its final month.
The visitors will arrive at the village green for a game as favourites, having only lost twice this season. However, one of those defeats came at the hands of Hartley. Since then, the sides have clashed in the Southern Electric T20 Cup, with Hook victorious.
Looking ahead to the big derby game, Hook captain Matt Love said: “The first time we played Hartley this year we did not play well, so we want to put that right.”
Meanwhile, Hartley skipper Jamie Teale is keen to record a double over their local rivals and said: “We know they have an explosive batting line-up, as the T20 proved, but we need to win to move away from the bottom two.”
Last time the sides met in the 50-over format, Dan Wrenn hit 91 and Scott Baldwin 61 as Hartley scored 271, with Kieran Thomson (4-46) the chief wicket taker for the hosts.
Hook were then bowled out for 237, despite good knocks from Richard Willcock (66) and Ben Allnutt (51), as Chris Jolley and Seb Waddington took three wickets each.
In the Southern Electric T20 Cup, Hook recorded a a crushing nine-wicket win, Ben Thane leading the scoring with an unbeaten century.
Hook have a full squad to pick from as wicket-keeper Josh Buckingham and Willcock are both available once more. The pair would have missed the washed out game against Andover last weekend, when water got under the covers.
Looking ahead to his team selection, skipper Matt Love said: “It is a nice headache to have with everyone available, but it is just a shame someone will miss out.”
The Hook captain is looking forward to his side’s local trip and said: “I love going to Hartley as it has to be one of the nicest grounds to play cricket at in the league.”
“With New Milton still ahead of us in the table and Basingstoke breathing right down our necks we know we cannot afford to lose.”
Hartley will re-shuffle their line-up for the visit of Hook as opening bowler Chris Jolley is forced to sit out after taking a ball to the head while batting in the loss at Calmore Sports.
Matt Kerr and Richard Hill also miss the game, so Will Ross, Tommy Flanders and Simon Carter all come into the side.
Carter will take over from Hill behind the stumps and he could be a lucky charm for the home side, as he also played in the win over Hook earlier in the season.
Captain Jamie Teale said: “We were no match for Hook when they last came here in the T20 game, but I feel that if we play well we can match any side in the 50-over format.”
“They are second in the league because they are a good side, but we need to win the game as much as they do, so I am sure it will be a very entertaining encounter
Leaders New Milton may have racked up a 22-point maximum last week – but skipper James Park still reckons they are second favourites for the title.
The Green & Golds have been defeated just once in Division One of the Southern Electric Premier League this season but Park’s boys face trips to championship rivals Basingstoke and Hook & Newnham in their final three fixtures, besides playing Bournemouth in their last game.
Milton visited Rowledge today bidding to keep their noses in front with the captain keen for his troops to emulate their 10-wicket triumph over Totton & Eling six days ago.
Park said: “The most important thing for us is to get the win first but the bonus points could come into play. We missed out by seven points last year and have to learn from that to not chuck away anything silly.
“I would still say Hook are probably slight favourites. Like us they have a tough run-in but they have home advantage against us and Basingstoke. We just have to do everything we can to stay ahead of the game.”
Milton went to Rowledge with a ten point lead over Hook, who were washed out against Andover last week – the first SPL1 game of the summer to be physically cancelled without a ball being bowled.
Winning again is all that is on the mind of Basingstoke and North Hants skipper Chris Froud as his side look to keep the pressure up on the top two in Southern Electric Premier Division One.
New Milton still head the table from Hook and Newnham Basics, but the Bountymen are only 16 points behind the leaders and four behind their local rivals, so they will be ready to pounce should the top two slip up.
Basingstoke still have to play both of the top two again, with a trip to Hook a week on Saturday and then a home game against New Milton on August 15.
However, before the Bountymen can focus on these games, they have a trip to north Hampshire rivals Andover.
When the teams met earlier in the season at May’s Bounty, Basingstoke won by 95 runs.
Andover did not have a game last week as their trip to Hook was cancelled due to water getting under the covers, while Basingstoke had a delayed start before they beat visiting Rowledge by five wickets.
Basingstoke will re-shuffle their line-up ahead of the clash as seam bowler Dan King and middle order batsman Lee Nurse are unavailable.
So back into the team come bowler Chris Chandler and batsman Craig Williamson, who scored 94 in his last game for the team in their victory at Totton.
Calmore Sports look to build on the confidence they gained from beating Hartley Wintney last week when they resume their battle for Premier Division 1 survival at Liphook & Ripsley.
Teenage left-hander Ben Johns and five-wicket Dan Croft will again need to play key roles as Calmore bid to close the ten-point gap between themselves and Hartley Wintney, who face a stern task against title chasing Hook & Newnham Basics.
Steve Wright returns to spice up Calmore’s seam attack.
Calmore Sports: Lavelle, Johns, Perry, Goodrich, Cook, Rose, Pegler, Bailey, Wright, Proudley, Croft.
Richard Dibden is back to lead Totton & Eling against an unpredictable Bournemouth at Southern Gardens. otton lie rock bottom, 12 points beneath the nearest safety rung.
Totton & Eling: Dibden, Arnold, Jenkin, Beresford, Rouse, Manning, Ennew, Mooney, Perrin, Metcalfe, Blake
Hook are right in the thick of the battle for promotion as they lie second in the table, while Hartley are frantically trying to move away from the relegation zone as the season enters its final month.
The visitors will arrive at the village green for a game as favourites, having only lost twice this season. However, one of those defeats came at the hands of Hartley. Since then, the sides have clashed in the Southern Electric T20 Cup, with Hook victorious.
Looking ahead to the big derby game, Hook captain Matt Love said: “The first time we played Hartley this year we did not play well, so we want to put that right.”
Meanwhile, Hartley skipper Jamie Teale is keen to record a double over their local rivals and said: “We know they have an explosive batting line-up, as the T20 proved, but we need to win to move away from the bottom two.”
Last time the sides met in the 50-over format, Dan Wrenn hit 91 and Scott Baldwin 61 as Hartley scored 271, with Kieran Thomson (4-46) the chief wicket taker for the hosts.
Hook were then bowled out for 237, despite good knocks from Richard Willcock (66) and Ben Allnutt (51), as Chris Jolley and Seb Waddington took three wickets each.
In the Southern Electric T20 Cup, Hook recorded a a crushing nine-wicket win, Ben Thane leading the scoring with an unbeaten century.
Hook have a full squad to pick from as wicket-keeper Josh Buckingham and Willcock are both available once more. The pair would have missed the washed out game against Andover last weekend, when water got under the covers.
Looking ahead to his team selection, skipper Matt Love said: “It is a nice headache to have with everyone available, but it is just a shame someone will miss out.”
The Hook captain is looking forward to his side’s local trip and said: “I love going to Hartley as it has to be one of the nicest grounds to play cricket at in the league.”
“With New Milton still ahead of us in the table and Basingstoke breathing right down our necks we know we cannot afford to lose.”
Hartley will re-shuffle their line-up for the visit of Hook as opening bowler Chris Jolley is forced to sit out after taking a ball to the head while batting in the loss at Calmore Sports.
Matt Kerr and Richard Hill also miss the game, so Will Ross, Tommy Flanders and Simon Carter all come into the side.
Carter will take over from Hill behind the stumps and he could be a lucky charm for the home side, as he also played in the win over Hook earlier in the season.
Captain Jamie Teale said: “We were no match for Hook when they last came here in the T20 game, but I feel that if we play well we can match any side in the 50-over format.”
“They are second in the league because they are a good side, but we need to win the game as much as they do, so I am sure it will be a very entertaining encounter
Leaders New Milton may have racked up a 22-point maximum last week – but skipper James Park still reckons they are second favourites for the title.
The Green & Golds have been defeated just once in Division One of the Southern Electric Premier League this season but Park’s boys face trips to championship rivals Basingstoke and Hook & Newnham in their final three fixtures, besides playing Bournemouth in their last game.
Milton visited Rowledge today bidding to keep their noses in front with the captain keen for his troops to emulate their 10-wicket triumph over Totton & Eling six days ago.
Park said: “The most important thing for us is to get the win first but the bonus points could come into play. We missed out by seven points last year and have to learn from that to not chuck away anything silly.
“I would still say Hook are probably slight favourites. Like us they have a tough run-in but they have home advantage against us and Basingstoke. We just have to do everything we can to stay ahead of the game.”
Milton went to Rowledge with a ten point lead over Hook, who were washed out against Andover last week – the first SPL1 game of the summer to be physically cancelled without a ball being bowled.
Winning again is all that is on the mind of Basingstoke and North Hants skipper Chris Froud as his side look to keep the pressure up on the top two in Southern Electric Premier Division One.
New Milton still head the table from Hook and Newnham Basics, but the Bountymen are only 16 points behind the leaders and four behind their local rivals, so they will be ready to pounce should the top two slip up.
Basingstoke still have to play both of the top two again, with a trip to Hook a week on Saturday and then a home game against New Milton on August 15.
However, before the Bountymen can focus on these games, they have a trip to north Hampshire rivals Andover.
When the teams met earlier in the season at May’s Bounty, Basingstoke won by 95 runs.
Andover did not have a game last week as their trip to Hook was cancelled due to water getting under the covers, while Basingstoke had a delayed start before they beat visiting Rowledge by five wickets.
Basingstoke will re-shuffle their line-up ahead of the clash as seam bowler Dan King and middle order batsman Lee Nurse are unavailable.
So back into the team come bowler Chris Chandler and batsman Craig Williamson, who scored 94 in his last game for the team in their victory at Totton.
Calmore Sports look to build on the confidence they gained from beating Hartley Wintney last week when they resume their battle for Premier Division 1 survival at Liphook & Ripsley.
Teenage left-hander Ben Johns and five-wicket Dan Croft will again need to play key roles as Calmore bid to close the ten-point gap between themselves and Hartley Wintney, who face a stern task against title chasing Hook & Newnham Basics.
Steve Wright returns to spice up Calmore’s seam attack.
Calmore Sports: Lavelle, Johns, Perry, Goodrich, Cook, Rose, Pegler, Bailey, Wright, Proudley, Croft.
Richard Dibden is back to lead Totton & Eling against an unpredictable Bournemouth at Southern Gardens. otton lie rock bottom, 12 points beneath the nearest safety rung.
Totton & Eling: Dibden, Arnold, Jenkin, Beresford, Rouse, Manning, Ennew, Mooney, Perrin, Metcalfe, Blake