WILTSHIRE CRICKET LEAGUE: THE 25th season of the Crusader Sport Wiltshire Cricket League opens tomorrow, with events already planned to mark the Silver Jubilee.
Among the events organised are a couple of matches between League XIs and invited opposition and a dinner, provisionally scheduled for October.
This summer the league will comprise eight Divisions of 10 sides, with Division Four reduced to nine teams with the late withdrawal of Dauntsey Gentlemen and Division Eight comprising 14 sides.
In Division One Wootton Bassett, relegated from Gloucester and Wiltshire Division Two, replace Marshfield, who have taken Bassett's place in the higher league. Bassett have suffered consecutive relegations and will no doubt be seeking to emulate Marshfield and regain their status.
They will however be challenged by last season's runners-up Great Bedwyn, with Calne, Westinghouse and Bath Civil Service also likely to offer stiff opposition. Promoted Spye Park and Lechlade will seek to consolidate their standing, while Purton, Box and Collingbourne will all hope to improve on the performances of last year.
In Division Two Cooper-Avon Tyres should improve on last year's third place and relegated Nationwide House will hope to bounce straight back. Their strongest challenge could come from newly promoted Avebury and Blunsdon. Potterne, also relegated, might struggle again along with Sutton Veny and Seagry.
Division Three could again be very close as relegated Burbage and Beanacre look to regain Division Two status and they will be pushed hard by Wanborough and Wroughton.
Further pressure could also come from promoted Corsham 3rds and Wilcot. Lambourn and Moredon Royal Oak might well struggle again.
Bradford Town 3rds should improve in Division Four, with Heytesbury and Highworth their most likely challengers.
In Division Five United Churches will be bidding to finally step up and Wootton Bassett 2nds to be near the top.
The fate of Warminster 3rds and Devizes 3rds could well depend on how settled their sides can remain, without suffering calls from their senior XIs.
All Cannings and promoted Trowbridge A could lead the way in Division Six, perhaps with challenges from Bradford Town 2nds and relegated Burbage 2nds.
In Division Seven promoted Biddestone 3rds will look to go up and Collingbourne 2nds and Corsham 4ths are likely to figure. A 14-team Division Eight is difficult to judge, with five new sides entered, but Devizes and Swindon 4ths should certainly be near the top.
FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY
Division One, Bath Civil Service v Box; Calne v Wootton Bassett; Purton v Collingbourne; Great Bedwyn v Spye Park; Westinghouse v Lechlade; Division Two, Avebury v Blunsdon; Potterne v Swindon Civil Service; Seagry v Cooper-Avon Tyres; Nationwide House v Buscot Park; Urchfont v Sutton Veny; Division Three, Burbage and ER v Beanacre; Cherhill v Wroughton Wranglers; Swindon 3rds v Lambourn; Corsham 3rds v Wanborough; Wilcot v Moredon Royal Oak; Division Four, Coates v Keevil; Bathford v Swindon Litten Tree; Bradford Town v Purton 2nds; Highworth v Nationwide House 2nds; Division Five, Beehive Bradford v Warminster 3rds; Wootton Bassett 2nds v Devizes 3rds; Chippenham 3rds v United Churches; Buscot Park 2nds v Mildenhall; Nettleton v Westinghouse 2nds; Division Six, Box 2nds v Burbage and ER 2nds; Trowbridge A v Calne 2nds; Cooper-Avon Tyres 2nds v Bradford Town 2nds; Goatacre 3rds v All Cannings; Lacock v Westbury 3rds; Division Seven, Beanacre 2nds v Bath Civil Service 2nds; Wootton Bassett 3rds v Cherhill 2nds; Collingbourne 2nds v Chippenham 4ths; Dauntsey Gentlemen v Corsham 4ths; Biddestone 3rds v Marshfield 3rds; Division Eight, Blunsdon 2nds v Trowbridge B; United Churches 2nds v Swindon 4ths; Bradley v Wilcot 2nds; Devizes 4ths v Biddestone 4ths; Warminster 4th v Potterne 2nds; Spye Park 2nds v Bathford 2nds; All Cannings 2nds v Highworth 2nds.
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