Watch out! Rovers have some class acts about

ROVERS should be back where they belong in 2004. Traditionally one of Guernsey cricket's biggest and strongest clubs, they struggled desperately last year when, defending their crown, they finished bottom of the pile in the championship.

The Evening League was hardly any better as they accumulated just six points, the same amount as Sylvans, who were relegated on net run-rate, and they fell at the first hurdle in both the GCA Cup and the CIKO.

But, in fairness, Richard Hamilton had forecast a difficult season for his first as captain. His side had lost nine players out of a

15-man squad including Stuart Bisson, Ed Benfield and Andy Mountford, who were travelling, while Gary Kimber had moved away.

Add to that the injuries to Richard Headington, who broke his ankle during the season, and Tim de Putron and it was always going to be a struggle.

'This is just a holding year for us . . . next year, watch out,' were Hamilton's words 12 months ago.

How prophetic he was.

Even before a ball has been bowled, others in the top flight are calling Rovers title favourites and with good reason, although Hamilton feels it is far too early to say such things.

'Once we started signing a couple of people, people were calling us the team to beat. I don't think that is right; you have got to earn that,' he said.

'If we keep everyone fit, we should be challenging but it is up to people to prove it.

'Obviously I am expecting a great improvement on last year but I am not setting too much of a target at this time. It is just important to gel as a team.'

But the favourites' tag was bound to be hung around Rovers neck when the signings are of the quality of former first-class cricketer Nick Derbyshire and the current GCA player of the year, Tim Duke.

'Tim and Nick will make a big difference. They have looked excellent in nets and their attitude has been superb,' Hamilton said.

'Tim is obviously a class act and Derbyshire is now showing his pedigree in practice.'

But just as important to Hamilton as the newcomers are those who are returning.

Although he is unsure as to whether we will see much of Benfield this summer, definitely back in the fold are Bisson and Mountford.

Both players have been involved with the island squad in the past and will add backbone to a side that lacked it last summer.

'We have got a lot more strength and depth. We have a squad of 18 players, all of whom

I would expect to play a part for us this season.

'I knew at the start of last year we were going to struggle and that is what happened. This year I am expecting the exact reverse.

'Last year we still had some good players in the XI but people did not perform. It was a difficult season and morale was affected, but this year there are no excuses.'

One of the major problems for Rovers last summer was being unable to set tough targets for their opponents and that stopped them being competitive on a regular basis.

In the one match they did win in the championship, they managed to defend a paltry 115.

That should not be the case this year and once they get a decent total on the board, they will prove hard to beat as their bowling attack has a lot of potential.

The pacy Derbyshire and Matt Jeffery will take the new ball with Stuart Bisson, Duke, Aaron Scoones and Hamilton providing the options.

Headington will be the mainstay at the top of the batting order and the skipper is looking for a big summer from his predecessor.

In the early matches, left-hander Jon Baker is set to open with the former island captain, with Duke at three and Scoones at four.

That could change as the season progresses, with Mountford easing himself back into the game and Hamilton, one of the more under-rated batsmen in the top flight, still to be accommodated.

However, injury will rob Rovers of their captain for the early part of the season.

Hamilton revealed that he will not be featuring on the field until mid to late May, although he will be heavily involved in the dressing room.

There are also doubts over de Putron's fitness; he has a knee problem.

Meanwhile, Jody Bisson's appearances behind the stumps will again be limited until after the football season is over.

But the squad should have the strength to cope with those losses for a couple of weeks even though Rovers have a couple of tricky fixtures to start off with.

They face Optimists in the Barclays Premier One a week tomorrow and their opening Carey Olsen Championship match is against title-holders Wanderers.

'Having been champions two years ago,

we want to prove it was not a one-season wonder thing,' said Hamilton, on 2004's general aims.

'We are also very keen to perform well in the CI club competition. I am expecting, by the time it comes around, that we should have a full squad. It should come at the right time for us.

'The Evening League is a bit of a lottery. Any one of St Pierre, Optimists, Cobo and ourselves could win it.'