Reach for the Stars
After last week’s successes the five Ts’ Saturday sides return to action looking, as those titans of British pop, S Club 7, might have put it to ‘reach for the stars’. The ones, twos and threes are all looking to cement positions in the promotion places whilst the fours and fives are aiming to build on last week’s positivity and, to quote the doyen of 1990s dance music, Heather Small, to enter the fray with the aim of “moving on up” their respective tables. Ok, I’ll get me coat …

Nat KO revisited?
The ones welcome Eastcote to Twickenham Green. Eastcote have, of course, already played a game in TW2 this season, although it was a short and (from Eastcote’s perspective) not so sweet affair (see here). 49 all out in the National KO and the match was done and dusted by 14h30. I think we can be pretty sure that Eastcote will be switched on to try and make amends for that trouncing so Carlos Nunes and the guys need to be on their metal.

The Ts certainly go in to the game in good spirits. Carlos returns from a week away, meaning that Clint McCabe can return to the ranks. Following his daddy hundred last week, Varad Rampal makes his first team debut and Dave Russell also returns to the starting XI.

2s on their travels
The twos make the short journey to Barnes looking to push on and land the top spot. Barnes, however, won’t be pushovers, the Lonsdale Roaders having made a sound start to the season. The Pheasants have, however, lost their last two so Eugene Berger’s troops travel in optimistic frame of mind.

MDL Skipper Nikhil Nomula drops down from the ones, whilst the irrepressible Phil Nash also returns to the side. Ajmal Allahdad is also in the team meaning that the Ts top order has a fair degree of unconventional firepower. Whether Darshit Mashar has recovered from the psychological scars he suffered watching India get trounced at the Oval on Sunday is, however, another matter. Darsh, we’ll have a psychologist on standby, don’t worry.

Top two meet at Southgate
The threes have a really interesting game in prospect, a top of the table clash with Southgate. The Ts are currently a couple of points ahead of Southgate in the ladder and they travel to the Walker Ground hoping to expand on that.

Skipper Steve Watts is away pretending he is still young at Glastonbury, meaning that his twin brother Kev Cavilla will be leading the side. Mo Ahmed comes in behind the sticks, whilst Geoff Stohert and Pete Darby make welcome returns. Stu Amos and Mark Smith are also back, although quite how the 3s will fair without the lightening fielding of Paul Johnson (on Vets’ duty the day after) is another matter ….

Continuing the upwards climb
The 4ths have a potentially tricky encounter against SKLP 3rds to look forward to. Skipper Hinay Dassani, fresh from taking three wickets last week, nonetheless has an eclectic mix of talents to call on. Shreeraj Chauhan offers some nice variety in the spin department whilst Vijay Sanas will no doubt be hurtling in to bowl at his usual lively pace. The big question is whether the much maligned batting can hold up. Nihal, straight bat, give nothing away, you know the game.

The 5ths continue to clock up the air miles
The fifths are once again on their travels. Having had to visit Edmonton (located just to the West of Hamburg) last week they are off to Stanmore 4ths this week. Stanmore play in Bushey, so fractionally to the South of Oslo. The fifths really are ratcheting up the miles at the moment.

The side nonetheless looks stronger on paper than it has done for a while. Nitin Parab will certainly offer something with the bat whilst Andy Donelan and Chris Supple offer obstinate defence in bucketloads. Fingers crossed that the Harminator has recovered from the nasty bout of pad rash that he suffered last week, too …

As has been well published, there will also be plenty of events going on at the Green throughout Saturday so if you're not playing do make an effort to pop down. The Lions’ game is on at 0830 with bacon rolls and coffee. Plus, don’t forget that it’s First XI day. See here for more on that.

Go well everyone.