CHAIRMAN Ben Griffiths is confident newly-promoted Cleobury Mortimer Cricket Club will be competitive in the Worcestershire County League Division Three this summer.

Mike Green’s side travel to Stourport this weekend after Cleobury slipped to a three-wicket home defeat against Old Vigornians last Saturday in their first completed league match.

Griffiths snapped up 4-16 against rivals Old Vigornians but Cleobury paid the penalty after being shot out for just 92 on a soft pitch.

Griffiths said: “It’s going to be tough because we have a few lads who are missing at the moment.

“James Manley has gone travelling and he should be back in July. He’s one of our best bowlers and bats at number three.

“We can’t really comment on the standard of this league yet because Old Vigornians have come up into the league with us.

“We had four first-team players missing last weekend and it does give everyone else a chance.

“I am hoping that we will be able to compete in this league.”

Nick Jones top-scored in Cleobury’s 92 all out and, in addition to vice-captain Griffiths’ four wickets, Dave Shorter took 2-20 as Old Vigornians struggled to the target.

Griffiths said: “The pitch was a bit difficult. We only managed to get 92 runs and I think a par score probably would have been about 150.We took four early wickets and had them down to 93-7.”

Cleobury travel to Stourport this Saturday and Griffiths expects a tough test.

“We have played Stourport before in the Sunday league and it will be a different experience for us,” said Griffiths.

“We used to play against Brintons a lot. Once that side went, quite a lot of those lads who played for Brintons started to play for Stourport.

“I expect they will have looked at our result from Saturday and now think they are going to make hay this weekend.

“We played with 10 in the first team and our second team played with nine last week but we still have quite a few lads playing rugby and football and, hopefully, we will have some back.”

Cleobury’s 2nd team host Old Hill 4th in 2nd XI Division Four this Saturday and will be hoping to bounce back from last weekend’s five-wicket loss.

Phil Mackie snapped up 5-5 as Cleobury 2nd were rushed out for just 50 against Old Vigornians 2nd.

Although Grant Carbines bagged 3-12, the Worcester club reached the target for the loss of five wickets.

Cleobury train on Tuesday nights at their ground from 6pm to 8pm.