Match Preview

Back on the field, Sandiacre Town set out in defence of the Premier league title they won in 2015.

I doubt many would dispute that 2015 was not a vintage year in the division. Sandiacre won it because they were less inconsistent than anyone else.

Let us take a positive out of that. It could be argued that a mixed bag of results was indicative of a levelling out of the standard, which surely cannot be a bad thing.

Sandiacre were beaten four times but still finished 61 points clear. Swarkestone lost seven matches in finishing second; relegated Alvaston & Boulton only lost one more.

As last year, continuity is of the essence at Longmoor Lane. Dan Wheeldon continues as captain and they will forego an overseas signing again. Oliver Swann's work in London means he has moved on but Dan Birch returns to strengthen the batting. Oli Saffell and Kabir Imtiaz have signed from A&B.