ROYAL Wootton Bassett captain Darren Beasant says that their opening win of the season at Warminster will count for little if they fail to back it up tomorrow against Great Bedwyn.

The Gerard Buxton Sports Ground side made their return to the West of England Premier League last Saturday following an absence of three years.

Bassett were handed a tough opening assignment in WEPL Wiltshire as they faced a Warminster side that were relegated from Premier Two Glos/Wilts.

However, after seeing the Sambourne Road side reach 105-3, Bassett skittled the remaining seven batsmen for just 63 runs to leave Warminster 168 all out.

The reply for Beasant’s side was well measured as they got home in the 46th over.

But the skipper knows that they must follow that win up against a Bedwyn side who were well beaten by Devizes last weekend.

“I know that this league is really competitive, anybody can beat anybody,” Beasant said. “There is no point going to Warminster, putting in a decent performance and winning, and then not doing it at home against Great Bedwyn.

“When we started the season, I said we needed about six or seven wins to stay up – we have got one of them.

“If we can get another one on Saturday then that would be great. Hopefully, we can get to the middle of the season with four or five wins under our belts – that way we can relax a little.”

Beasant expects that spin will be key to any Bassett success this term as the new square at the club is still bedding in.

“It is still pretty new at Bassett, the square has been down for two years – we played there for the first time last year,” the captain explained.

“Squares generally take a couple of years to bed in. The wicket is a little slow, so with our spinners it is good that we can take the pace off the ball.”

Purton will be keen to follow up their opening day of the season success over Trowbridge, who are one of the favourites for the title this year, when they make the short trip to Swindon.

Aaron Lee’s side were bowled out for 265 with only three balls of their innings remaining which saw wicketkeeper Sam Bull top score with 53.

Purton then went and ripped through the Trowbridge batting line-up in less than 21 overs as Lee (2-31), Callum Wright (3-45), Adam Woolford (3-10) and Tom Bowler (2-8) did the damage as the visitors were dismissed for 101.

Swindon will also be keen to maintain their winning start after they defeated last year’s runners up Marshfield by nine wickets with, Chris Aubrey and new skipper Alex Kill leading the team home 24.2 overs.