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SPCL 2/3 - Laney envisages tough exam from county team-mates
Mike Vimpany (as published in Daily Echo) - 6 June 2002
Hampshire's Jason Laney is preparing himself for a testing afternoon at the crease when he opens the batting for Hungerford against the county's Academy bowlers at the War Memorial Ground - weather and ground conditions permitting!
Laney is averaging over 50 for his home town Berkshire club so far this season, but knows there are a host of his county 2nd XI team-mates eager to claim his scalp in the intriguing 50-over Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 fixture.
"Lawrie Prittipaul and James Schofield, in particular, are showing great interest in bowling at me, so you can anticipate how high my level of concentration will be if we play" he said. "If either of them gets me out, I've got the rest of the season to hear about it !"
It's a critical match for Hungerford, who are lagging behind top dogs United Services and Easton & Martyr Worthy.
"This league will go to the wire, with any of four of five sides capable of winning it, so beating the Academy is very important," added Laney who, like the rest of his Hungerford team-mates, is worried that heavy midweek rain could scupper the game altogether.
Luke Merry is set to return to an otherwise unchanged Academy team, which got back to winning ways against Easton & Martyr Worthy last weekend.
Leaders United Services go to Old Tauntonians & Romsey, with Easton back on familiar home soil for the visit of Winchester neighbours Sparsholt, who are minus USA-bound skipper Rob Savage.
Winchester KS themselves travel to Lymington, eager to build on consecutive victories over Trojans and Rowledge. It's touch and go whether Sussex pace bowler Billy Taylor will play a third successive game - he has a Norwich Union League game at Lord's on Sunday.
Inconsistent Lymington badly need some big scores from their power-packed top order.
Trojans entertain bottom club Rowledge minus Jamie Donaldson and Jon Gillespie, but Paul Durand is fit to resume his middle-order batting role.
Premier 3 pace-setters Purbrook visit Redlynch & Hale, whose opening bowler Steve Moody is following the World Cup in Japan.
Second-placed Alton, two points behind, visit fourth-placed Hambledon, with St Cross Symondians anticipating the return of top run getter Mark Parker against out-of-sorts Paultons at the Royal Green Jackets Ground.
Saints football skipper Jason Dodd returns for much changed Flamingo against Hartley Wintney, who have to contend with ten-wicket all-rounder Adie Heath, who is currently in the form of his life.
Steve Taylor (broken hand) may return for New Milton at Portsmouth II, while lowly Gosport Borough, having sunk to second-from-bottom place, are in desperate need of a positive result against Hursley Park.
It's a vital day too for Waterlooville, who need to arrest a two-match losing sequence against Hook & Newnham Basics who broke their duck at Ventnor last week.
The Islanders expect to be boosted by the return of Alex Baker at Havant II, while Leckford may have Australian Glen Richmond on duty against struggling Bashley (Rydal) II at Bakers Farm.
© SPCL / Daily Echo
| Players/Umpires | Jason Laney, Lawrence Prittipaul, James Schofield, Robert Savage, Billy Taylor. |
| Tournaments | Southern Electric Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |