HARTLEY Wintney are ready to kick start their season by taking the scalp of Southern League Division Two leaders Trojans on Saturday.

Their newly promoted south Hampshire rivals won their opening two games and last weekend their home game to Fawley was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

This was in contrast to Hartley whose game started at second placed Hambledon which lasted 19 overs.

The visitors were put into bat in the Meon Valley and looked on their way to building a big total, before rain called a halt to the game with Hartley looking impressive on 90-1.

This was after openers Matt Kerr (25 not out) and Thomas Garwood (33) had shared the club's best first wicket stand of the season so far which was worth 67 runs.

Garwood was then the only man out, as he was bowled by James Atkinson.

Captain Danny Plume took up the mantle with a quick fire unbeaten 20 from 29 balls, which included two fours and a six Plume said: “I was a bit frustrating as we looked in a good position to make 250 plus and the field was starting to get spread out.

“We may have not won yet in the league, but the mood in the camp is very positive.

“The warm-up went well at Hambledon with a lot of energy and this was transposed onto the pitch and I want us to take that into this week’s game, which is going to be tough as we face the leaders.”

Hartley will make one change to their line-up for the visit of Trojans with Ollie Waddington coming for Chris Saville.

Plume added: "We feel as a team we are better than where we are in the table at the moment and our side will get even stronger next month with players returning from university, but this could also be the case for other teams."

Opening batsman Jack Hersh and bowler Seb Waddington are the Hartley who will return and are expected to be back for the first game in June.