OTs & Romsey have been dealt a blow ahead of the first round of Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 fixtures with the news that the club’s leading Southern League run scorer Max Smith has picked up a back injury.

Smith, pictured below, is certain to miss tomorrow’s Division 3 opener against St Cross Symondians at the Sport Centre, and is a doubt for the following week’s clash at home to Tichbourne Park.

The club’s second XI completed their preparations for the coming league season with a successful run out against Fareham and Crofton last Saturday, winning by four wickets with 13 overs to spare.

Phil Wyatt took six wickets for 25 runs as the visitors collapsed after a good start, losing their last eight wickets for just 32 runs.

Sam Draycott, Mark Whytehead and Mike Trodd each took a wicket.

Romsey lost early wickets when they started their chase as four wickets fell for 51 runs. However, Ian Tulk and Pete Biddlecombe rallied with a 60-run partnership to secure the win.

The seconds travel to Hartley Wintney II on Saturday for their opening Hampshire League County Division II clash.

The third and fourth team met at Hunts Farm with the thirds running out seven-wicket victors.

Ian Jerram (5-30) was the pick of the bowlers, with Andy Moger chipping in with 3-9.

Ollie Jordan, Jack Salter and Stuart Wood were the main run scorers in their total of 139 all out. In reply, skipper Jim Stewart and Dave Service shared an 84-run second wicket partnership. Service, with 67 not out, including ten fours and a six, led them to victory.

Longparish made the journey to Romsey for a Sunday friendly and found the club’s young batsmen in belligerent form.

Having restricted the visitors to 212-8 in their 40 overs, with some tidy bowling by Gus Flack (2-22), Cameron Melling (2-21) and Danny Mills (2-30), Romsey made short work of the reply.

Fifteen-year-old colts player Alex Bampton stroked a cultured 40 runs with some good hits all round the wicket.

His dismissal brought Rob Newman and Danny Mills together and the pair splayed the Longparish bowlers to the tune of 79 runs.

Both finished 64 not out, with Newman hitting seven fours and a six in 53 balls, and Mills a swashbuckling 10 fours and two sixes in just 29 balls.