Trojans unbeaten leadership at the top of Southern Electric Premier Division 3 is expected to come under the closest scrutiny so far when Ed Boyd takes his side to Bemerton to face third-placed South Wilts II.
In the course of five matches, all of which they have won, Boyd has turned his 2014 relegation candidates into a potential promotion winning team. But South Wilts are regarded as the strongest of the seven second teams in SPL3 and, with a wealth of talented youth and experience, are also genuine contenders.
South Wilts II: Pearce, W Wade, S Pittman, B Draper, R Pittman, Phillips, Webb, Hansford, R Wade, Wheeler, Ducellier, P Draper, Burton.
Trojans: Boyd, Williams, Babidge, Pope, Truscott, Le Bas, Ul Hassan, Donaldson, Wright, Manjra, Wazir
Alex Shephard toasted his first century in more than two years and then insisted Waterlooville have all the tools at their disposal for a promotion charge.
The Ville batsman hogged the headlines last weekend as his excellent 116 against Havant II secured a fifth successive victory in SPL3 for the Rowlands Avenue outfit.
That continued Waterlooville’s 100-per-cent record this term, as they share top spot with fellow pace-
And Shephard, whose side will look to make it six from six at St Cross Symondians, was relieved to be back among the runs.
He said: ‘To be fair, it’s been due. I hadn’t scored a century for two years since I was on tour in Torquay. I’ve had a few fifties in between but then given it away. It was nice to just knuckle down and bat for a long time.
‘It was tough at the beginning – I came in when we were 10 for two and had lost two early wickets. The opening bowler for them, Pete Hayward, was bowling really well and was quite tough to get away. ‘I had to be patient and it took 17 balls for me to get off the mark.
‘But then when the spinners came on it started to free up a little bit and me and the Australian, Sam Williams, put on 150-odd for the third-wicket partnership. When he got out, myself and Huddo (Jon Hudson) continued the momentum and put on a further 103 runs from 12 overs. It was nice to have good partnerships and put away the bad balls. It was one of those days where you had to stick in there and then it gets easier and easier.’
Shephard believes Ville’s versatile side have flourished under the leadership of new skipper Max Goddard. And confidence is understandably high heading into the round six clash against St Cross Symondians II as the visitors bid to continue their winning momentum.
Shephard said: ‘We are confident for the game at St Cross – it will be tough against their twos but the momentum is with us at the moment.
‘We are five from five and we play as a team, so promotion is a possibility – but we know there are a number of other good sides in this league. Max Goddard has taken over as the new skipper with fresh ideas and the lads are really pulling together well.
‘We are a young side, with only Andy Reynolds – the old stalwart behind the stumps – in the older age bracket! All the other lads are in their twenties or younger, with all-rounder Archie Reynolds – Andy’s son – only 15. ‘We can all field and Max has got seven or eight bowling options as well, with Sam Hillman and Danny Durant leading the way with the ball. As a batting line-up, we bat all the way down and although we don’t want to rely on other people, we know we can go out there and be positive.’
Gosport Borough should be too strong for basement side Alton II at Privett Park. Lymington II host Basingstoke & North Hants at the Sports Ground, with controversial ‘handled the ball’ opener Bryn Darbyshire and fit-again Dom Hand back in the line-up.
Lymington II: Kelly, Hand, Darbyshire, Robinson, Sutherland, Layman, C Moors, Cooke, Molloy, Drodge, Gregory.
In the course of five matches, all of which they have won, Boyd has turned his 2014 relegation candidates into a potential promotion winning team. But South Wilts are regarded as the strongest of the seven second teams in SPL3 and, with a wealth of talented youth and experience, are also genuine contenders.
South Wilts II: Pearce, W Wade, S Pittman, B Draper, R Pittman, Phillips, Webb, Hansford, R Wade, Wheeler, Ducellier, P Draper, Burton.
Trojans: Boyd, Williams, Babidge, Pope, Truscott, Le Bas, Ul Hassan, Donaldson, Wright, Manjra, Wazir
Alex Shephard toasted his first century in more than two years and then insisted Waterlooville have all the tools at their disposal for a promotion charge.
The Ville batsman hogged the headlines last weekend as his excellent 116 against Havant II secured a fifth successive victory in SPL3 for the Rowlands Avenue outfit.
That continued Waterlooville’s 100-per-cent record this term, as they share top spot with fellow pace-
And Shephard, whose side will look to make it six from six at St Cross Symondians, was relieved to be back among the runs.
He said: ‘To be fair, it’s been due. I hadn’t scored a century for two years since I was on tour in Torquay. I’ve had a few fifties in between but then given it away. It was nice to just knuckle down and bat for a long time.
‘It was tough at the beginning – I came in when we were 10 for two and had lost two early wickets. The opening bowler for them, Pete Hayward, was bowling really well and was quite tough to get away. ‘I had to be patient and it took 17 balls for me to get off the mark.
‘But then when the spinners came on it started to free up a little bit and me and the Australian, Sam Williams, put on 150-odd for the third-wicket partnership. When he got out, myself and Huddo (Jon Hudson) continued the momentum and put on a further 103 runs from 12 overs. It was nice to have good partnerships and put away the bad balls. It was one of those days where you had to stick in there and then it gets easier and easier.’
Shephard believes Ville’s versatile side have flourished under the leadership of new skipper Max Goddard. And confidence is understandably high heading into the round six clash against St Cross Symondians II as the visitors bid to continue their winning momentum.
Shephard said: ‘We are confident for the game at St Cross – it will be tough against their twos but the momentum is with us at the moment.
‘We are five from five and we play as a team, so promotion is a possibility – but we know there are a number of other good sides in this league. Max Goddard has taken over as the new skipper with fresh ideas and the lads are really pulling together well.
‘We are a young side, with only Andy Reynolds – the old stalwart behind the stumps – in the older age bracket! All the other lads are in their twenties or younger, with all-rounder Archie Reynolds – Andy’s son – only 15. ‘We can all field and Max has got seven or eight bowling options as well, with Sam Hillman and Danny Durant leading the way with the ball. As a batting line-up, we bat all the way down and although we don’t want to rely on other people, we know we can go out there and be positive.’
Gosport Borough should be too strong for basement side Alton II at Privett Park. Lymington II host Basingstoke & North Hants at the Sports Ground, with controversial ‘handled the ball’ opener Bryn Darbyshire and fit-again Dom Hand back in the line-up.
Lymington II: Kelly, Hand, Darbyshire, Robinson, Sutherland, Layman, C Moors, Cooke, Molloy, Drodge, Gregory.