THE Worcestershire League season starts tomorrow with matches beginning at 1pm.

DIVISION ONE

Droitwich Spa begin at local rivals Worcester and hope for a better season after they flirted with relegation before eventually finishing fourth from bottom in 2016.

Norton-based Worcester have all-rounder Chris Steele as their captain and bid to build on fourth position last year.

“As first XI captain along with most people in the club we have very high hopes for this season,” Steele said.

“Our club have had a good amount of young players arrive over the winter so it’s bulked out all of our teams really nicely, given us a new lease of life and brought all the teams closer together.

“There’s a real buzz around the club about this season and we all have high hopes.”

Worcester have enjoyed strong friendly wins, beating Oswaldtwistle Immanuel from Lancashire by four wickets and Kempsey by 113 runs.

Chairman Pete Breakwell said: “Our recruitment during the off-season has been great and we are looking at challenging at the top.

“Droitwich are certainly a threat and a team to watch but we are confident of getting the result.”

New Droitwich captain Jake Young will be relishing the opportunity to lead his team for the first time.

Jack Sealey and Jordan Renau have returned along with Ian Cottrill who should face his former club.

Australian Renau starred in a friendly win over Halesowen last weekend, hitting 87 runs as Droitwich enjoyed a five-wicket home win.

Other fixtures: Bewdley v Burghill, Tillington & Weobley; Feckenham v Cookley; Pedmore v Hagley; Redditch v Eastnor; Stourport v Colwall.

DIVISION TWO

Promoted Old Vigornians are looking forward to life at the higher level after finishing second in Division Three as they host Chaddesley Corbett at Hawford Lodge.

Captain and last season’s player of the year Osman Fiaz will need to continue the form that saw him hit 1,002 runs for the Worcester club.

Chairman Phil Mackie said: “This is our first season in Division Two which is the highest the club have ever been since the leagues were reorganised at the turn of the century.

“Our main aim is to stay up which means winning at least six matches and picking up as many bonus points as possible.”

Other fixtures: Belbroughton v Coombs Wood; Bredon v Lye; Enville v Evesham; Oldswinford & Stour Social v Bromyard; Wormelow v Harborne.

DIVISION THREE

Promoted Martley start their Division Three campaign at Kempsey in a stern test against a side who finished fourth last year.

Captain Tom Clement will hope they continue the good form that saw them finish second in Division Four in 2016.

Malvern entertain Himbleton after doing the double over them last year, beating them by 10 wickets at home.

The town side will be hoping for more of the same from paceman Chay Ankers who took 4-19.

Rushwick finished mid-table in 2016 and will be striving to build on that when they host Avoncroft.

Bowler Clive Jones starred when the teams met in the last campaign, taking 11 wickets over the two games.

Other fixtures: Alvechurch & Hopwood v Astwood Bank; Himley v Five Ways Old Edwardians; Netherton v Bartestree & Lugwardine.

DIVISION FOUR

Hallow start at home to Claverley and will hope to avoid the threat of relegation after gaining promotion from Division Five last year on finishing third.

Hanley Castle and Upton are in the same position after dodging the drop by just nine points last season.

Worcester thirds take on city rivals Old Elizabethans thirds with both teams new to the division.

Other fixtures: Alveley v West Malvern; Bromsgrove v Stourport; Halesowen v Kidderminster.

SECOND XI

Division One: Colwall v Stourport; Coombs Wood v Bewdley; Eastnor v Redditch; Evesham v Feckenham; Hagley v Pedmore; Harborne v Worcester.

Division Two: Bromyard v Oldswinford & Stour Social; Burghill, Tillington & Weobley v Belbroughton; Chaddesley Corbett v Netherton; Cookley v Enville; Droitwich v Wormelow; Lye v Bromsgrove.

Division Three: Astwood Bank v Alvechurch & Hopwood; Avoncroft v Rushwick; Bartestree & Lugwardine v Old Vigornians; Claverley v Kempsey; Five Ways Old Edwardians v Halesowen; Stourport v Bredon.

Division Four: Hanley Castle & Upton v Tenbury; Himbleton v Malvern; Kidderminster v Himley; Martley v Hallow; Old Elizabethans v Worcester; West Malvern v Alveley.