CHIPPENHAM have set their sights on the Glos/Wilts Division title following a strong summer of recruitment.

South Africa all-rounder Darryl Losper will join the club as their overseas player for 2015, while Brad Dawson arrives from Goatacre, as does Owen Allsop from the Hampshire academy.

Lee Ward’s men may only have only finished one place off the drop zone last summer but that has not stopped the skipper aiming as high as possible this term.

“I’m very positive for the new season. We’ve got to set our aims high and our focus is on trying to win the league title,” said Ward.

“People might say that is ambitious with how we have fared over the last couple of years but with the additions we have made we’re really excited about what we can do.

“Last season either at home or away we beat everyone in the league. We know we can do it so it’s a case of doing it consistently now.

“We’re aiming for the top five at least. With the restructuring ahead of the 2016 season it’s important we are at least in this league then.”

Chippenham have also strengthened off the field, with Joe Breet arriving as new club coach.

There have so far been no teething problems despite the big changes at Hardenhuish Park, with Chippenham heading into their season opening fixture away at Frenchay in fine form.

Ward said: “We’ve got some new additions that we are all very excited about and we’ve also got a new coach to help us off the field.

“It’s all been very positive and we’ve had the biggest numbers we’ve had in pre-season and we’ve all been training together.

“Hopefully all the new recruits can fire and then we have got guys like Paul and Rich Bates who add experience, and someone like George Reed who is a really good young spinner. We’ve got strength right across the board.

“We’ve played teams from higher leagues in pre-season and have managed to win two of the three games.

“We’ve built up some momentum and now we’ve got to look to carry that on into the season.”