SOUTHERN League Division One leaders Hook and Newnham Basics are determined to maintain their form in the second half of the season.

At the midway point in the season, things are looking good for Hook, who have lost just once and lead second-placed New Milton by 10 points.

However, it seems that the spectre of their lone defeat, at home to local rivals Hartley Wintney, looms large over the King George V Playing Fields.

Captain Matt Love said: "As a team, we are still frustrated by that defeat, because we were terrible that day. If we had played the way we know we can, we could be unbeaten and in an even better position.

"We are in a great position but are just trying to enjoy it and take it one game at a time. We're not thinking about winning the league yet."

Next up for the league leaders is a home game against an inconsistent Bournemouth side. They are fifth in the table after losing to some of the struggling sides, but they beat Basingstoke and North Hants at May's Bounty two weeks ago, New Zealander Josh Finnie smashing his way to a match-winning 96, and came up just nine runs short against New Milton last week.

When the teams met on the opening day of the season, Hook thrashed the Dorset side by nine wickets, bowling them out for 115, but Love is expecting a much tougher test this time around.

He said: "It certainly will not be as easy as it was last time, when they didn't even have their overseas player.

"Bournemouth have got some good players, but they struggle for consistency. They have some really talented young players who win them games, but it doesn't always come off for them."

Hook will be without Nick Willcock, while his brother, Richard, is a doubt due to a knee injury. Sam Bruin and Jordan Hobday are both on stand-by if required.

Love's men ended the first half of the season with their seventh win last weekend, opening batsman Kieran Thomson playing a starring role as they beat Totton and Eling by 32 runs.

The 17-year-old smashed his way to 157, hitting 14 fours and eight sixes during the course of an excellent 111-ball innings and putting on 128 for the second wicket with Love (65 from 69 balls) as Hook reached 333-9 from their 50 overs.

Totton showed little interest in chasing this total down until they had amassed maximum batting points.

They also had a century maker, opener Tom Arnold hitting an unbeaten 129, while Josh Metcalfe hit 60 from 32 balls in a final flurry, but it was too late to affect the outcome of the game.

Love said: "Considering he is only 17, Kieran Thomson's innings was ridiculous and we are all really pleased for him.

"He is always practising and plays every game he can, so if someone deserves an innings like that, it is him. He's a serious talent.

"Once we got to 333, it was a bit of a nothing game. The scoreboard makes it look closer than it was because once they got to 225, they started swinging for the fences.

"We went attacking with our field settings to try and take wickets, knowing that we had runs in the bag."