ROYAL Wootton Bassett captain Darren Beasant is aiming for a repeat result of last season’s convincing home win against Purton as the two prepare to face off this weekend at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground.

Purton were bowled out for 47 inside 25 overs this time last season, while Bassett then went on to win by seven wickets as they began their home league campaign with four straight wins.

Whereas this season, both sides have already suffered opening weekend defeats with Purton losing to Marshfield by 129 runs while Bassett tasted defeat by just 11 runs away at Westbury.

Beasant was left frustrated by his team’s naivety at various stages in the match – particularly in the field as they let 53-3 turn into 156-4 and their tight bowling lines began to stray in search of wickets.

Not only did Bassett suffer heart-breaking defeat, but Beasant’s team will go into the match against Purton without opening batsman Sam Lawro as he deals with a stress fracture in his back.

Meanwhile, Charan Chahal was reported to the league’s disciplinary board by match umpires last week and is set to be banned for six weeks as a result.

Still optimistic of an improved showing and desperate for local bragging rights, Bassett captain Beasant said: “It will be competitive – it’s a local derby and they normally are.

“If I think back to last year, we beat them pretty comprehensively at our place and then they returned the favour down there later on in the year.

“We’ve had three or four keenly contested games with them since we’ve been back in WEPL and I don’t anticipate it will be any different this time around.”

Beasant revealed his side bowled with two 16-year-olds last week after being questioned about the youthful nature of Purton’s XI.

The Bassett skipper believes his side may boast an age advantage over their upcoming opponents, but the relative experience in both teams is not too far apart, as was shown in Bassett’s defeat to Westbury.

He said: “We might be a little bit older than Purton, but there aren’t many players in our side – myself and a couple of others aside – that have played an awful lot of WEPL cricket, so we’re not blessed with an awful lot of hugely experienced players.

“We’ll keep learning lessons – you always do – but early season games are about discipline, building pressure and not trying too hard to force the game with the ball.

“That’s what we need to do this week.”