Lymo face tough opening fixture
Lymington make a belated start to their SPL campaign tomorrow with a tricky trip to Alton. Captain Adie Hunt will be desperately hoping his new-look team gets off to a good start against the team that finished third last season and defeated Lymington in a tense rain affected fixture last June. Adie has a fairly explosive-looking batting line-up at his disposal with big-hitters Bryn Derbyshire, Pete Smith and Matt Molloy all in the top five. Besides Smith, there will be three other debutantes on show: Mark Burrett, Sam Westcott and 16 year old Lloyd Scott who makes his Southern League bow after impressing in the nets recently. The full line-up is Hunt M, Derbyshire, Burrett, Smith, Molloy M, Pain, Hunt A, Westcott, Molloy E, Scott and Norton. Alton have a strong bowling attack and are boosted by the arrival of Aussie opening batsman Ryan Hale who performed well for Gosport last season.

One player who won't be performing for Lymington this season is BAT all-rounder Chris Thomason who was rumoured to be on his way back to the Sports Ground after an 8 year absence. The former Lymington opening bowler, top order batsman and celebrated chain-smoker has decided to take a year off from cricket, although many believe that Thomason's decision was due to the recently introduced smoking ban in the Sports Ground clubhouse!

Seconds
The Second XI face Fareham & Crofton at the Sports Ground. Peter Harding is likely to lead a bowling attack weakened by the loss of Lloyd Scott to the First XI, and Martin Gregory, Tom Myatt and Chris Noble who are all unavailable this week. 15 year old Harding performed well last year for the Third XI and his new captain has no qualms about throwing him in to Hants 1 action so early this season. Opening batsman Simon Naylor makes his competitive debut following his move from Brockenhurst, while all-rounder Mark Rossiter and keeper John Law also play their first matches for the club. Fareham won a high scoring match last year, and with the Sports Ground wicket looking flatter than ever, another run-strewn afternoon is likely tomorrow.

Thirds and Fourths
Peter Tapper takes control of his Third XI for the first time as they take on Godshill at Woodside, while Meg Gannaway captains a depleted Fourths at New Milton. With both sides decimated by call-ups to senior teams, we won't even hazard a guess at the likely starting line-ups.

With three of the four Lymington Saturday captains being ardent Saints supporters, they will undoubtedly have one eye on events at Selhurst Park, while the other Saturday captain - Peter Tapper - will have his eye firmly fixed on cow corner as usual!

TP