PURTON will have to overcome the strongest seam bowling attack in the division if they are to have the chance of climbing to the top of the table this weekend, according to captain Aaron Lee.

Previous leaders Marshfield suffered just a second WEPL loss of the summer last weekend, allowing Trowbridge to overhaul them at the summit.

Purton’s own victory over local rivals Swindon saw them move level on points with Marshfield and both teams are now just three behind the new league leaders.

A sizeable victory away at Westbury & District, coupled with other results going in their favour, could therefore see Purton sitting pretty at the top come Saturday night.

However, standing in the way of that is what Lee believes to be one of the most fearsome bowling line-ups out there and although Westbury have won just half of their 10 matches so far this summer, Lee is preparing for a hostile reception.

“They have got three of the best seamers in the league in Andy Carroll, Alex Senneck and Richard Oakley so we will have to be on our game,” said Lee.

“If we can keep ourselves together and not lose too many early wickets, it’s a good pitch out there so there’s always a bag full of runs available.

“The Swindon result meant a lot to us so we’re in a good place at the moment and we’re looking forward to trying to put another positive result on the board this weekend.”

Purton dealt with the Westbury bowlers comfortably when the teams met for the first time this season back in mid-May as Xander Pitches and Adam Woolford shared an opening stand of 138 en route to a seven-wicket success.

Lee knows that if they can repeat that performance on Saturday, it will go a long way to an encouraging result in west Wiltshire.

“We need to negotiate those first 10 to 15 overs, those ones are key. We just have to try to see those out and then look to kick on from there,” said Lee.

“We managed to do it last time and I don’t think we lost a wicket in the first 20 overs earlier in the season.”