WOOTTON Bassett are hoping to build on last season's impressive third placed finish in the Gloucester and Wiltshire League Division One when the 2002 season begins on Saturday 4 May.

Solid performances from the likes of Tim Gallimore, John Clarke and Jug Chahal guided Bassett into the league's top bracket last term and the side's ability with the bat should provide the platform for success.

The club's booming youth section also continues to produce a wealth of new talent, spearheaded this year by Lee Stevens. Joe Lucan, Liam Guntrip and Jon Millington are also knocking on the first eleven door.

Club chairman Rod Smith is delighted to see so many youngsters in contention for first team places ahead of the new campaign.

He said: "They are all 16 or 17 and that is where the future is. Lee Stevens, who is in the Wiltshire under 19s, should be in the firsts this year, although you can never pre-empt it.

"We have a solid youth policy and six qualified coaches. There has been plenty of opportunity for the youngsters and they are starting to come through."

South African Richard Nienaber, a leg spinner and batsman, will be hoping to repeat the success his countryman Derek Stevenson enjoyed last year. Nienaber arrives this week and Smith hopes he will gel quickly.

He said: "With overseas players, you tend to toss a coin and hope. We've been very fortunate all these years and, if he's as good as the ones we've had in the past, then we'll be more than happy. But it is not all about them being a superstar cricketer. We don't do it just to win games. He has to be part of the club and make friends and help out at all levels.

"Some clubs come up with a superstar one year, get promoted, and then suffer because they don't have someone quite as good the following year."

Smith is hoping his batsmen will continue to produce the goods this summer, and predicts further progress from Wiltshire under 19s skipper Clarke, who excelled with the bat last term. He said: "We're strong on the batting side, but maybe not quite so good on the bowling side.

"Jug Chahal is a quality player, John Clarke is class and so is Tim Gallimore. They all did well last year and, if these three chaps put it together again, we'll win more than we lose."

Bassett can look forward to derby matches against Devizes and old adversaries Malmesbury in Division One this season. Despite his side's impressive showing last summer, Smith's first priority is for Bassett to safeguard against the drop into Division Two. He said: "I think consolidation has to be the aim. I'm known as a pessimist at the club, but I have a real fear of getting relegated. We must think of that before we think of promotion.''