TENBURY Wells CC start their new season in the Worcestershire County League with a match against old foes West Malvern on Saturday.

And the Penlu side will have a new man at the helm as seam bowler Robbie Farrar takes over from Zack Yarranton as skipper.

Tenbury just missed out on promotion from Division Four last season, finishing third behind Hanley Castle and Bromsgrove who had a season-long tussle for the title.

And Farrar, one of three brothers who play for the club, is hopeful that this will be another successful year.

“I’d like to think we can be up there again challenging if not actually winning it this season,” he said. “It can be difficult at times, particularly in the holiday season, because we only have two teams and some of the other clubs are much bigger and have more players to call on.

“But we’re looking forward to making a start. The leagues have been juggled around a little so there will be some new clubs to play which will be good – you don’t want to be going to the same old places all the time.”

West Malvern will need no introduction to Tenbury’s players though as the Worcestershire side were their opponents on the final day of last season, a game that saw Tenbury secure a winning draw thanks to an Alex Mason century and a useful 73 from fellow opener Kier Sellars.

“It’s going to be a tough first game, games with West Malvern always are,” Farrar added. “We’re likely to be without a few players for our first one or two because of their football commitments and while we’ve managed a few net sessions over at Cleobury Mortimer, it’s not the same as getting out there on the square and we’ve not been able to do that because of the weather. “

The skipper, whose brothers Jack and Jamie also play at Tenbury, said the team would be similar to the one that finished third last season but added that he was hopeful that one of two of the club’s juniors could work their way through the system and be given their chance to shine.

“We’re lucky that we have good facilities at Tenbury,” Farrar explained. “We have youth training every Friday when we can teach them the basics and hopefully they will develop and make the step up.”

Aaron Morris will once again be vice captain of the first team while Tenbury’s seconds will be skippered by Benny Thompson with Lewis Giles filling the role of vice captain.

There are five new sides in Division Four this season. Astwood Bank and Himley were relegated form Division Three, Stourbridge were champions of Division Five and Halesowen and Romsley & Hunnington make up the quintet.

[BLOB] Knighton-on-Teme and Cleobury Mortimer have an extra week to prepare for the start of their Marches Cricket League campaign. They start their season on April 28.