SHRIVENHAM captain Alex Bowles has been quick to defend his side after an unconvincing start to the 2014 season.

Last week’s no result was one of just two fixtures in OCA Division One to fall victim to the weather and it now leaves Bowles’s team without a win and 48 points behind the league leaders going into the third week of the season.

This week they travel to Chadlington, who themselves are looking for a first win of the year, and the Shrivenham captain has rid any thoughts that his side are already playing catch up in the division.

“You have to remember it’s a long season in a league where everyone can beat each other,” he said. “We know we’re good enough to string together a run of results, so if we take care of our games, the league position will soon sort itself out.”

Chadlington have recorded two defeats from two this year and were beaten home and away by Shrivenham last term, so will be expecting a tough test, but Bowles has warned his players that this will be anything but straightforward.

“There’s no ideal time to face anyone in this league,” he said. “They may have the mindset thinking this game is good chance to take advantage of our slow start, but at the same time, it’s obviously a good opportunity for us to get the first win under our belts as well. We’ll take nothing for granted.”

There will also be a keen eye on the performances of Shrivenham’s bowlers this Saturday, who will be out to prove a point after they took just one wicket in their disappointing defeat to Great Horwood on the opening day.

Shrivenham are forced into two changes from last week’s team, so Andrew Bowles and Elliott Day come in to replace Rob Wycherley and Ben Hull.