HOOK and Newnham Basics know that only victory will keep their Southern League Division One title and promotion hopes alive this weekend.

League leaders New Milton visit the King George V Playing Fields on Saturday having lost just once this season and on the back of eight straight wins.

Last weekend, Hook suffered a heartbreaking three-run defeat at Liphook and Ripsley, a result that means they must beat New Milton to send the title race into the last weekend of the season.

They need to pick up 20 more points than the visitors to swap places with them at the summit. There are 22 points up for grabs for the winning team, but a maximum of nine bonus points are available to the losing side.

Anything less than a heavy defeat would leave New Milton on top going into the final day of the season, when they entertain Bournemouth, while Hook have a tricky trip to relegation-threatened Totton and Eling.

Hook captain Matt Love is sure his side will bounce back and end their home campaign on a high.

“We are going to continue the way we have played our cricket all season and we will back ourselves to win,” he said. “We know it is going to be a tough game, but it’s very exciting with a lot at stake.”

When these sides met earlier in the season, the game was abandoned after 9.5 overs, with New Milton struggling on 39-2, Spencer Champ having taken two early wickets.

Hook captain Matt Love said: “It was good toss to win down there and we were in strong position when the game was stopped, even though it would have been tough to bat later on.”

It is set to be an intriguing contest on Saturday as Hook’s explosive batting line-up comes up against a bowling attack which has yet to concede 200 runs this season. In fact, they have bowled sides out for less than 160 on nine occasions.

On the flip side, Hook have scored over 200 runs six times this year, with their top score being a massive 408 at Hartley Wintney earlier this month.

This looks likely to be where the contest will be won or lost on Saturday and Love said: “New Milton have found a way to get over the line in many low scoring games.

“We are not going to change the way we play for this game as we have had a good season playing the way we do.”

The action starts at 12.30pm and with dry weather forecast, it promises to be a thrilling match.