AFTER enduring a disappointing afternoon in their opening fixture of the British Athletics League season, Basingstoke and Mid Hants are looking for better results at match two this afternoon.

The Down Grange club suffered without multi-eventers Ben Hazell and Sam Sleap in the first National League division two match at Cardiff last month. They were seriously depleted in the field events, eventually finishing seventh of the eight teams.

Both men will return for this weekend’s match at Sheffield – and team manager Ian Byett is looking for an improved performance.

“We will be looking to hit back this weekend,” he said. “We certainly have a much stronger team on paper this time around.

“We will be much better when it comes to the field events so I am hopeful we can get a good result. I think the aim will be to finish fourth or fifth because it looks like Sheffield and Liverpool are the strong teams this year.

“It will be nip and tuck with Kent for third and fourth though and a good result this week would take some of the pressure off.”

While the return of Hazell and Sleap will boost Basingstoke in the field events, they will be without sprinter Kieran Showler-Davis, who won both the 100m and 200m at Cardiff. His brother Dean, another multi-eventer, will take over in the sprints.

World Championship silver medallist Robert Tobin, who finished second in the 400m last time out, will also be missing as he chases a fast time at a meeting in Switzerland.

However, sprint hurdler Tony Higbee and middle distance runner Rob Whittle will make the trip, along with 400m hurdler Andy Blow, who has a 100 per cent record at BAL meetings over the last two years.