Wiltshire Cricket League

Celebrating its silver jubilee the Wiltshire League will be hoping to provide some exciting cricket from its eight divisions before it finishes on the last weekend of August.

Events have also been organised for the forthcoming season in celebration of the jubilee with a couple of matches between a League XI and invited opposition as well as a dinner provisionally scheduled for October.

This year the league will comprise of eight divisions of ten sides apart from division four, which has been reduced to nine following the late withdrawal of Dauntsey Gentlemen's first XI.

Division eight will also comprise of 14 sides as Wilcot and Spye Park second XIs along with Trowbridge B and Biddestone fourth XI and newcomers Bradley join.

In Division One, Wootton Bassett first and seconds, relegated from Gloucester/Wilts Division Two, replace their Marshfield counterparts, who go up to the same league.

Bassett have suffered consecutive relegations and will no doubt be seeking to emulate Marshfield and regain their status.

Last season's runners up, Great Bedwyn, are likely to offer them stiff opposition along with Calne, Westinghouse and Bath Civil Service.

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 years third place while relegated Nationwide House will hope to bounce straight back up.

Their strongest challenge could come from newly promoted Avebury and Blunsdon. Potterne, also relegated last year, may struggle again along with Sutton Veny and Seagry.

Division Three is expected to be close as relegated Burbage and Beanacre look to regain Division Two status and will be pushed hard by Wanborough and Wroughton who finished last season third and fourth respectively.

Further pressure could also come from promoted Corsham third XI and Wilcot, while Lambourn and Moredon Royal Oak might well struggle.

Bradford Town, third last year should improve in Division Four, with relegated Heytesbury and Highworth their most likely challengers.

However, do not rule out Nationwide seconds, who have gained promotion each season in the league.

From Division Five, United Churches are tipped to finally step up and Wootton Bassett second XI could be near the top. Warminster and Devizes thirds' positions could well depend on how settled their sides can remain without suffering calls from their senior elevens.

All Cannings and promoted Trowbridge A could lead the way in Division Six with challenges perhaps from Bradford Town second XI and relegated Burbage second XI.

In Division Seven promoted Biddestone third XI will look to go up while Collingbourne second XI and Corsham fourth XI are likely to figure.

A 14-team Division Eight is difficult to judge with five new sides but Devizes and Swindon fourth XI's should certainly be near the top with perhaps Highworth and United Churches seconds thereabouts with any of the new sides joining the battle for a promotion slot.