SKIPPER Ben Thompson believes Tenbury CC’s ‘old guard’ is the key to a potential promotion push this season.

After dropping several levels due to a Worcestershire League restructure, Tenbury have begun the Division Nine unbeaten in their first three games.

Saturday’s winning draw at home to Alveley – in which former skipper Rob Farrar claimed five wickets – has left Tenbury, who visit Himbleton this weekend, fourth in the early standings.

Thompson said: “We’re unbeaten so it’s been a decent, steady start.

“We didn’t start very well in our first game (a losing draw with Ombersley) but won our second and as good as won our third, getting 17 points. We just couldn’t get Alveley’s last batsman out.

“Rob took their first five wickets, all bowled, but then they shut up shop.

“From what I have seen, we will be challenging for promotion if we can get two teams out.

“At the moment, we are getting four or five regular old first-teamers playing each week and supplementing that with second-teamers and juniors.

“If I was to get six or seven regular first-teamers playing, we would be walking these games. Players like Andrew Adams, who made a half-century last week, and Rob could play in Division Two or Three.”

A collective effort with the bat and individual brilliance with the ball was behind Tenbury CC’s winning draw against Alveley in Worcestershire League Division Nine.

Six batsmen – Tom Pugh (29), Chris Giles (29), Andrew Adams (27), Alfie Watts (26), Jamie Farrar (24) and Ben Thompson (22) – contributed as Tenbury made 186-7.

A five-wicket haul from Farrar (5-25) plus 2-15 from Watts left Alveley clinging on for the draw at 106-9 in reply.