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SPCL 2/3 - Most important game for years calls Williams
Mike Vimpany - 8 August 2002
It's do or die day for Trojans at Rowledge tomorrow (SAT) - anything other than a win will see them relegated from Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2.
"Our most important game in years," is how skipper Simon Williams sees it. And Williams knows that his Stoneham side, minus influential all-rounders Paul Douglas and Chris Mitchell, will have to pull out all the stops if they are going to win.
"We've got to bat first, post 250 and bowl them out. It's as simple as that," he said. But it's a key match to Rowledge too, because their Premier 2 future is on the line as well.
"We've done tremendously well to reach the semi-final of the National Village Championship, but have lacked a cutting edge in the league matches," confesses Rowledge stalwart Chris Yates.
Rowledge, who host Shipton Under Wychwood in the NVC semi-final on Sunday week, have had numerous close results in the league this summer.
"But we've only won twice - and that includes beating the Hampshire Academy team," Yates added.
Tony Middleton's county hopefuls can do Trojans - or Rowledge - a favour by beating Hungerford on the Rose Bowl Nursery ground tomorrow.
Hungerford are struggling in third from bottom place and are without Hampshire's Jason Laney for the Rose Bowl duel.
The Academy team moved 14 points clear at the top after last week's nerve-racking win over Easton & Martyr Worthy last week.
Chris Benham, who has been in top Second XI Championship form this week, returns for the Hungerford match, in which Hampshire Under-16 skipper Alex Richardson will make his Academy debut.
Middleton, who played a crucial role in the Easton drama, plans to sit the match out.
Second-placed Easton make the short trip to Sparsholt with Dave Birch replacing all-rounder Francis Gill, who flew home to Australia earlier this week.
Sparsholt, with Rob Savage and Kevin Foyle returning, could have Carl Nichols fit and plan to field a much more balanced side.
Four successive defeats has knocked United Services clean out of the promotion hunt, and skipper Gary Hounsome has Mark Toogood and Damian Carson out for the visit of Old Tauntonians & Romsey to Burnaby Road, where Charles Forward and Nick Wood will receive divisional Southern Electric Cricketer of the Month awards.
Hursley Park's Division 3 promotion credentials will be tested against St Cross Symondians, who lie second behind Purbrook in the title chasing stakes.
Leaders Purbrook ought to extend their lead with a comfortable home win against Waterlooville, but St Cross will undoubtedly find Hursley a tough nut to crack at The Quarters.
Hampshire's Jimmy Adams, who cracked a midweek century against Northants, could play for St Cross, who are without veteran wicket keeper John Boniface.
New Milton play on their brand new Fernhill complex for the first time against Leckford, while Hartley Wintney must beat ever-improving Gosport Borough if they are to stave off the threat of threat of an immediate return to the Hampshire League.
Newly promoted behind Ventnor last season, Hartley Wintney have managed only two wins from their 12 completed games.
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| Tournaments | Southern Electric Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |