South Wilts skipper seeking confidence booster at teh Academy

SATURDAY sees the start of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League Division One season and hopes are high that it will be one to remember for South Wilts, writes Mike Turner.

The Lower Bemerton-based side, who finished fourth last year, begin the new campaign with a trip to the Hampshire Rose Bowl's nursery ground to take on The Academy.

"It would be great to get off to a winning start," says newly installed captain Rob Wade.

The 34-year-old Yorkshire-man has taken the helm after club stalwart Russell Rowe was invited to take over as captain of Wiltshire.

"It'd be a real confidence boost to get a couple of wins under our belts early on," said Wade, who has been impressed by his side's form in their pre-season friendlies and minor cup competitions.

Rain put an end to proceedings in Saturday's match with Chippenham which saw Jamie Glasson and Paul Draper contributing 46 and 39 respectively in a total of 209-9 off 50 overs.

The visitors were 28-1 when rain stopped play in the sixth over.

Sunday then saw the club progress to the second round of the ECB National Club Championship when they beat Warminster courtesy of a faster run-rate in another rain-affected game.

An excellent bowling and fielding display had their opponents in trouble at 101-6 when the rain intervened.

South Wilts now entertain Corsham in the next round on May 11.