Looking forward to summer

5:00pm Wed Jan 23, 2013

Balderton will host Ellerslie in the first round of matches in the South Nottinghamshire Cricket League, as they bid to go one step better than last year and win Division A.

Rolls Royce Leisure comfortably beat Balderton to the title in a season dominated by rain and abandonments, and clubs will be hoping for much better weather in 2013 as the season draws nearer.

The season’s fixtures have been released and the first ball is due to be bowled in Division A on Sunday, May 4.

Last season’s bronze medallists Radcliffe will travel to Clifton Village 2nds while newly-promoted Calverton are away at Hucknall.

Radcliffe entertain Balderton the following week in what should be a feisty early season affair.

Division B, which starts a week earlier on April 27, sees an interesting local derby kick-off proceedings when Collingham and District welcome relegated Southwell.

The visitors will be looking to bounce back to the top flight at the first attempt.

Collingham and District then host Kimberley Institute 2nds while Southwell travel to West Bridgfordians in a clash of the relegated sides.

Newark R&M’s reward for promotion is a mouthwatering home start against Plumtree 2nds, who were relegated from Division B last season, while Bottesford take on Hoveringham.

Thurgarton face a trip to Radcliffe 2nds.

Division E throws up another local derby in the first week of fixtures when Fiskerton and Farndon meet after the former stayed up by just 0.10 points.

Whatton and Aslockton have been handed a tough start to life in the division after promotion as they travel to Hickling, who finished third last season.

Bingham, promoted to Division H despite finishing fourth, start away at Rolls Royce Leisure 2nds and Flintham host Ruddington after their relegation from Division G.

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Collingham and District travel to Notts&Arnold Amateur in their first game of the 2013 Newark Alliance Division One season.

Balderton, who missed out on last season’s title by only two points to Plumtree, open against promoted side PCCC, while Radcliffe take on Thoresby Colliery.

The first games of the season will take place on April 21.

Thurgarton travel to Long Eaton in Division Two and the two promoted sides meet when Claypole travel to West Bridgford.

Newark R&M begin their quest to improve on last season’s mid-table finish against Gedling Colliery 2nds in Division Three, while Fiskerton play Forest Green Youth.

A lack of players and a refocussing strategy on youth players has led Southwell to withdraw their first team from Division Two.

The club suffered relegation from top flight divisions of both the Newark Alliance and South Nottinghamshire League last season, and has decided to focus on rebuilding the squad and developing the junior section in Division Four.

They will begin their rebuilding campaign against promoted outfit Kegworth Town, while Farndon travel to Notts and Arnold Amateur 2nds.