Wem hope their stay in the Marston’s Shropshire Premier Cricket League will prove shortlived as they set their sights on an immediate return to the Birmingham League.
The Soulton Road men are back in the county’s top flight after just a year at the higher level saw them suffer the pain of relegation on the final day.
But skipper Martin Gaunt, while taking nothing for granted, is hopeful his side can make a concerted title push, even allowing for the twin departures of Sri Lankan pro Rasika to Newport and county batsman Martyn Davies to Shifnal.
“Everyone’s keen and raring to go and there’s always a buzz at the start of the season,” said Gaunt. “It’s always nice to start well to get on the front foot and we’ll see what happens after that.
“As a club we’re expecting to be somewhere near but we’re not going to say we’re going to win it. Having not played in the Shropshire League last year, we’re not sure what the standard’s going to be like, but I would like to think at some point we’ll be challenging.”
Gaunt has high hopes Wem’s emerging crop of talented youngsters will continue to improve, highlighting the likes of Josh Gough, Mattie Cohen, Dave Barnett, Danny Cohen and Chris Peel, who will miss at least the first three games, including Saturday’s opener at promoted Much Wenlock, owing to a hand injury.
He is also looking forward to seeing what the club’s new pro Cameron Rope, a top order batsman from New Zealand, can produce.
“He comes highly recommended,” said Gaunt.
“It’s always a bit of a gamble with overseas players but he plays first grade cricket in Auckland in the same team as people like Scott Styris.”
Meanwhile, Wem’s Soulton Road ground hosts Shropshire’s first match of the season on Sunday with the county facing Oxfordshire in the Minor Counties KO competition.
Shrewsbury’s Foster brothers, Ed and Rob, plus another London Road prospect, Jack Shantry, have been named in the Shropshire squad.