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ASTON Rowant captain Wesley Morrick was happy to talk up his side’s promotion chances in Division 2 West.

Rowant have signed six new players, including former Oxford man Nick Ferraby, and Morrick believes they have plenty of firepower.

“I always want to win the league,” said Morrick, whose side host Slough tomorrow.

“I think we have built well enough this year to be a major player.

“We have managed to get the experience of someone like Nick Ferraby and the young talent of Gordon Harris and Glenn Carlton, who are two good seamers.

“Plus there is our young spinner Chris Leaney.”

Links with Oxford Hawks Hockey Club saw Rowant approach Ferraby, who is on the staff at Magdalen College School.

Ferraby, a batting all-rounder who plays Minor Counties for Cambridgeshire, is also expected to assist with coaching.

Carlton, a medium-pace bowler and right-handed batsman, moved to Princes Risborough five years ago from Australia. He is returning to cricket after a two-year break.

Harris is a 6ft 7in fast bowler, who joins from North Maidenhead and had trials with Lancashire over the winter.

Batsman Alex Smith, who hails from Zimbabwe, will be Rowant’s 2nd XI overseas player.

Ben Bishop and George Storton join from Stokenchurch and West Ilsley respectively.

IN: N Ferraby (all-rounder, Oxford), G Carlton (all-rounder), G Harris (fast bowler, North Maidenhead), A Smith (batsman), B Bishop (batsman, Stok-enchurch), G Storton (batsman/wicket-keeper, West Ilsley). OUT: None.

ROWANT’S TITLE TIP: Gerrards Cross or Slough.

Cherwell League champions Shipton-under-Wychwood are due to make their debut at this level without having played a warm-up game.

The recent wet weather has seen all of Shipton’s pre-season matches cancelled, so they will be straight into the deep end at home to Dinton.

“We have been really stuffed up by the weather,” said captain Simon Hole.

“We were due to play matches against Buckingham, Oxford Downs, Horspath, Cumnor and Thame, but they were all either rained off or the pitches were too wet.

“It has been difficult. We have had a couple of indoor nets, it is just a case of trying to prepare as best we can.”

Shipton have signed pace bowler Johnny Gurney, wicket-keeper/ batsman Chris Oliver and batsman Olly Clayfield.

Hole added: “We have got a talented young squad with a few older heads, which you need.

“If we can look to hold our own this year and finish in mid-table, we’ll be happy with that.

“The first year will be all about adapting to the longer format of the game.”

IN: J Gurney (seamer, Kegworth Town), C Oliver (wicket-keeper/batsman, Stockton), Clayfield (batsman, Belvoir). OUT: None.

SHIPTON’S TITLE TIP: Slough.

Thame Town have had a job swap at the top, with Mike Higgs replacing Sam Lachlan as captain.

Lachlan takes on Higgs’s former role as vice-captain.

Thame, who host Falkland, will be without star spinner Jaydeep Bhatti, but have recruited all-rounder Vandit Jivrajani, another Indian, as their overseas player.

Also joining is all-rounder Cian Davies, from Millfields.

Thame finished eighth in 2011, avoiding relegation by three points.

Higgs said: “We want to improve on last season. We didn’t achieve our potential with the talent we have got in our side.

“I’m not going to say we are going to get promoted, but we can do better.”

IN: V Jivrajani (all-rounder, India), C Davies (all-rounder, Millfields). OUT: J Bhatti (spinner, India).

THAME’S TITLE TIP: Slough.