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Southern Premier League Division 3 Preview
Mike Vimpany - 23 May 2002
St Cross Symondians, edged into third place last season, are favourites to top Southern Electric Premier League Division 3 this summer.
With the prolific Steve Shaw joining from Hook & Newnham Basics and left-arm spinner Will Marriner moving in from nearby Sparsholt, Symondians - on paper at any rate - look to have assembled a title winning squad at their Royal Green Jackets headquarters.
Kiwi Mark Parker, who chalked up 465 runs last summer, has returned from his native New Zealand. But left top 2001 wicket-taker Bryan Lipscombe bag-packing in the Far East for most of the summer.
"If we play to our potential, then we should be around somewhere near the top," said St Cross captain Matt Perry-Lewis.
Today's opponents, Gosport Borough are among the other clubs expected to do well, probably alongside Paultons, Purbrook and Havant, who look the strongest of the three 2nd XI sides in Division 3.
Paultons, in particular, could take some stopping, especially if 20-year old West Indian quick Randy Davis, from Guyana, starts to get amongst the wickets.
Davis, who joined Paultons after putting his CV on the Premier League's website, plays alongside West Indies star Ramnaresh Sarwan for the famous Georgetown club.
"He played a friendly match for us on a slow track last week and was decidedly quick," warned Paultons fit-again skipper Duncan Park, who expects to have Bashley footballer Andy Darnton available all season.
Here's a club-by-club review of prospects for the coming season -
Alton (Captain: Julian Ballinger)
Got away to a flying start last season, but tailed off badly to finish a disappointing midway ninth. Matt Ireson's return from a sabbatical will strengthen Alton, but Magnus van Rooyen's departure back to Stellenbosch University has left a hole in the side. Veteran Paddy Heffernan, with 359 runs, and 24-wicket skipper Julian Ballinger did well last season and will expect to be among the shining lights again.
Prospects: Top half
Bashley (Rydal) II (Captain: Steve Lattimore)
Maintaining SPL3 status and blooding potential first teamers is Steve Lattimore's primary objective, both of which should be fulfilled. Players like Jo Hall and Rob Paul should continue to do well, but Lattimore will need a clean bill of health from an injury-stricken 1st XI bowling squad if the side is to hold its own, without alarms.
Prospects: Bottom half.
Flamingo (Captain: Stuart Shapland)
The departure of leading 2001 run getters Gary Fenigan and Shane Merkel to Australia has left a massive void, but skipper Stuart Shapland, who wears his heart on his sleeve, has made a good start with the bat. A shock Village Championship win at Easton boosted spirits no end, but Flamingo's will be happy if they stay up.
Prospects: Survival is top priority.
Gosport Borough (Captain: Tony Stares, Overseas : Nathan Collins (Queensland)
Gosport faded badly to finish a disappointing tenth last term. The arrival of Paul Jenkins, from Burridge, to link up with 41-wicket Aussie Nathan Collins, will give Borough's bowling a distinct edge. But with John Adams set to miss a chunk of the season and 409-run Lee Wateridge gone to Andover, Gosport will have to rely on Tony Stares, Gary Juryeff and the richly talented Stewart Magee for their runs.
Prospects: Should be in the top six.
Hambledon (Captain: Simon James, Overseas : Lee Burns (Australia)
Players tend to leave clubs who are relegated and that's just what has happened at Hambledon, where the retired Gary Shotton will be badly missed. Simon Barnard has joined Harting in the l'Anson Competition and Adrian Magrath has called it a day. Simon James takes over the captaincy and will rely heavily on Mark le Clerq, Ian Turner, Rob Norris and Australian Lee Burns to achieve consolidation.
Prospects: Mid-table.
Hartley Wintney (Captain: Tristan Gregory, Overseas : Jimmy Castrisis (Australia)
Runners-up to Ventnor in the Hampshire League last season, Hartley Wintney made their SPL debut against Paultons today. They maintained consistency throughout last season, with Dave Almond and Tristan Gregory in good nick. Neil Willis, the former Army off-spinner, will relish playing on a higher plain.
Prospects: Consolidation essential.
Havant II (Captain: Matt Gover)
Of the three 2nd XIs, Havant have the best chance of success, though first team calls will obviously dictate Matt Gover's strength. Newcomers Mike Morris and Martin Schmidt will boost a pretty strong batting line-up but Gover is the only recognised spinner.
Prospects: Will be disappointed to finish out of top five.
Hook & Newnham Basics (Captain : Keith Lovelock. Overseas : Lloyd Moore (South Africa)
Keith Lovelock, last season's leading SPL3 batsman, takes charge of a side weakened by the loss of prolific left-hander Steve Shaw to St Cross Symondians and big hitting Janusz Kaminski, who is at Camberley. Lloyd Moore, from the Western Province Academy, is the teenage overseas recruit. Basics had hoped to recruit Burridge-bound left-hander Ben Thane. It's burdened Lovelock with not only skippering the side, but also being the prime run scorer.
Prospects: Another consolidation season.
Hursley Park (Captain : Rob Lowe)
The club with the best ground in the SEPL really didn't ought to be playing in Premier 3, but if they can get to mid-June relatively unscathed, the Park could offer a promotion challenge. The mid-summer return of several promising students will make Hursley a useful outfit. Until then John Harris, who enjoyed a golden 2001 season, will again have to shoulder the run scoring responsibilities. The regular availability of Paul Edwards will boost the batting department, but the pace bowling department isn't strong.But who wants to bowl on a batting shirt-front at The Quarters ?
Prospects: Pretty good.
Leckford (Captain : Simon Reeves)
Mark Costin, from Stevenage, has arrived at Bakers Farm to bolster Leckford, who will be looking for more consistency after blowing hot and cold last term. Mike Howard's irregular availability is a big worry for new skipper Simon Reeves, as is Martyn Isherwood's nagging back problem. The club is hoping to persuade Aussie Glenn Richmond back for another summer but, as yet, there is no sign of any assistance from overseas.
Prospects: Bottom half.
New Milton (Captain: Steve Watts, Overseas : Peter Anderson (South Perth)
Losing David Wheeler to the Hampshire Academy team and then seeing Lee Beck (broken foot) and Steve Taylor (fractured wrist) pitch up at Ashley in plaster wasn't the best pre-season news for New Milton. Ryan Beck has returned from a South Perth winter a much bigger and better player, and brought with him Aussie all-rounder Peter Anderson (26), from the same Richardson Park club.
Prospects: Happy to finish in mid-table.
Paultons (Captain: Duncan Park, Overseas : Randy Davis (Guyana)
Should improve on last season's eighth spot and be in the frame. Randy Davis, a 20-year old all-rounder from the famous Georgetown club in Guyana, plans to make life hot for opposing batsmen. Colin James (502 runs) cracked three centuries last season and will play a key role alongside the potentially explosive Tony Richman and Andrew Darnton, who plans to be available regularly. Duncan Park is fit again, while Peter Lamb will be looking to build on last summer's 24-wicket haul.
Prospects: Pretty good
Portsmouth II (Captain: Andy Pitts)
Will seek to emulate last season's satisfactory final 12th placement. Andy Pitts has plenty of all-round options, but the retirement of opener Barry Stares leaves a significant gap to be filled. University players often provide more than useful inclusions.
Prospects: Comfortable.
Purbrook (Captain: Andy Mengham, Overseas: Tokkie Prozesky (South Africa)
Will look to improve on finishing fifth for the past two seasons and, under new skipper Andy Mengham, push hard for promotion. Colin Pay's departure to Harting is a blow, but is cushioned by the arrival of US batsman Craig Williams.If South African Tokkie Prozesky (20) does well, Purbrook, with Graham McCoy a potential match winner, could be a major promotion threat.
Prospects: Likely contenders.
Redlynch & Hale (Captain : Iain Souter)
The world has turned upside down for newly promoted Redlynch & Hale. On July 1 2000, they were fastened to the Hampshire League basement. On May 5 last year, Ventnor hit their attack for 314, yet they ended up third ... and promoted into SPL3. Ian Bryan and Mark Elkins will need to reproduce last season's run-scoring and Steve Moody build on his 20 wicket haul if Redlynch are to come to terms with life on a higher plain.
Prospects: Survival is the aim.
St Cross Symondians (Captain: Matt Perry-Lewis, Overseas : Mark Parker (New Zealand)
Bryan Lipscombe, last season's top wicket-taker, is spending most of the summer abroad, but St Cross start as a strong tip for the title. Left-hander Steve Shaw, whose 507 runs for Hook & Newnham last season includedtwo centuries, will strengthen the top order. Will Marriner joins from Sparsholt and Mark Parker has returned for a second season from his native Onslow club in New Zealand. When Jimmy Adams returns from Loughborough, St Cross ought to be too strong for the remainder of the field. But consistency is paramount; St Cross were vulnerable to the odd hiccup in 2001.
Prospects: They start as favourites.
Ventnor (Captain: Mark Whyte, Overseas: (South Africa)
It must be heartbreaking for the Islanders that, after seven years hard labour climbing through the Hampshire League pyramid, they lose the bulk of their team by the time they reach the promised Premier land. Mark Garaway (Somerset), Ian Hilsum, Mark Mitchell (Academy) Steve Snell (Havant), and Andy Whyte (injured) will all be permanent absentees this summer, with Alex Baker due back from University in mid-June. Although Neil Westhorpe has joined from Northwood, it's left Mark Fletcher and skipper Mark Whyte with significant voids to fill. Expect a return for the fiery Jeff Hose.
Prospects: Will comfortably hold their own.
Waterlooville (Captain/overseas: Chris Baumann (Queensland)
Came precariously close to relegation last year and, with few new faces, are likely to struggle again. Australian all-rounder Chris Baumann, with 423 runs and 21 wickets last term, now takes on the captaincy as well. Stan Rudder, edging ever closer to 70 years of age, will have a key new-ball role to play, and Martin Shephard with his batting and off-spin bowling.
Prospects: A struggle.
© SPCL / Mike Vimpany
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