JOSH Smith is urging Aston Rowant to use last week’s win as a stepping stone to putting a string of results together.

The skipper leads his side at home to Oxfordshire rivals Shipton-under-Wychwood in the Home Counties Premier League tomorrow after a slow start to the season.

Last Saturday’s seven-wicket win over Cookham Dean saw Rowant climb to sixth in Division 2 and spirits are high.

Smith said: “I thought we played really well against Cookham.

“We were pretty clinical last week, we bowled very well and it was a good all-round performance.

“It certainly seemed to all click into place and that is how we need to perform.”

Rowant have been forced into changes though with Gordon Harris and Ricky Hopwood unavailable so Leo Bethell and Hendrick Robyns come in.

Shipton skipper Charlie Brain believes it is important for his players to take note of their league position.

Despite a good performance at Oxford last week, a 14-run defeat leaves them second bottom.

Brain, who welcomes back Andy Hemming and Craig Wood in place of George Seacole and Tim Senior, said: “We’re trying to be positive.

“But the sooner we realise we are already in a relegation scrap the better.”

Horspath captain Will Eason says he is pleased with his side’s strength in depth ahead of their match at home to Amersham.

Rameez Raja hit his second century of the season as the leaders drew with Buckingham Town last week.

But with the likes of Jamie Stead, Robbie Eason and Harrison Ward scoring regular runs, Eason is happy with the overall batting contribution.

“We also had Jasper Davies at 11, he has got plenty of quality with the bat,” added the skipper.

“It is the first season where we are not really bothered what we do at the toss because we bat all the way down.”

Stead and Adam Price are unavailable, so Shahbaz Ali and Millie Faruq come in.

Oxford captain John Barrett is calling on bowler Samad Fallah to continue where he left off six days ago when they visit Gerrards Cross.

The left-arm seamer produced season’s best figures of 6-81 in last weekend’s win over Shipton.

Barrett said: “Sam is a proven quality player and we expect him to go from strength to strength.

“It is great for him to get those wickets off his back.”

Oxford make one change, with Freddie Fairhead returning in place of Adam Hall.

Thame Town face Datchet at home.

After last Saturday’s defeat to Amersham in difficult conditions, captain Mike Higgs is hoping his young side can continue to develop.

He said: “We know we can compete, but one area we do need to work on is being able to grind out a result when the weather is not great.”

Dan Patey and Ed Barnett replace Honey Garg and Sam Lachlan.

TOMORROW'S TEAMS

Aston Rowant (v Shipton, home): Hammond, Tolson, Jewell, Smith, Morrick, Muttitt, Barras, Cook, Dyer, Bethell, Robyns.

Shipton (v Aston Rowant, away): Dickinson, Barrett, Perkin, C Miller, Si Hole, Sanklecha, Cross, Brain, S Miller, Hemming, Wood.

Horspath (v Amersham, home): R Eason, Phillips, Raja, Ward, Foster, Green, W Eason, Belcher, Davies, Ali, Faruq.

Oxford (v Gerrards Cross, away): Alam, Perera, Munsey, Clough, Barrett, Crosby, Mendis, Beer, Simon, Fallah, Fairhead.

Thame Tn (v Datchet, home): Sutcliffe, Higgs, MacDonald, Beard, Adams, Mushtaq, Furness, Phippen, Rooney, Patey, Barnett.