DOUBLE winners OULTON PARK believe they can go one better this season.

The league champions and the Cheshire Cup winners believe the treble is a strong possibility.

New skipper Nathan Dumelow wants to add the League's Twenty/20 Trophy - the honours he reckons may well return to Little Budworth next September.

Perhaps frighteningly for other ECB Premiership clubs Dumelow said: 'I think we have got a better side this year.

'I'd be very disappointed if we did not win the league and I'd like to win all three.'

Dumelow has used his Derbyshire connections to recruit top order bat Chris Baffano and seam bowler and bat Ben Spendlove who, like Dumelow himself, have experienced first-class cricket.

Oulton are not fielding an over-seas player this time, however.

Dumelow added: 'I have been doing a bit of phoning around.

'It is sometimes harder to win a title second time round, but I am very confident.

'It is only my second year in the County League, but I am loving it. It's a marvellous club and professionally run. We have a new nursery ground and irrigation system and a great junior set up.

'Who will challenge us? I like the look of Hyde, Bowdon and Alderley Edge.'

It is at Alderley Edge that Oulton start on Saturday.

WINNINGTON PARK have diced with relegation from the County League First Division for the past two seasons and, skipper Stuart Hayes admits, on paper they appear to be one of the weaker sides.

But they have recruited batsmen Ian Eaton, from Oakmere and Warrington's Ian Sleigh and know their bowling and fielding to be reliable.

Hayes said: 'We have gone into the last game for two seasons still with a possibility of being relegated and that's not much fun.

'Our division gets harder, but I think we are a mid-table team.

'Our batting has let us down recently so we have looked to improve that weakness.

'We do not know who are the good sides so I have told the team I'll be happy with two wins and two draws from the first six games.'

As part of a deal with clothing company SP Cricket, Park have a coaching session with ex-West Indies skipper Jimmy Adams to look forward to next month.

Winnington have relaunched their Under 11s side and have close links with Comberbach Primary School, where Adams will also visit.

Park's opener is at home to promoted Bollington.

MIDDLEWICH are desperate to prove themselves worthy of their place in the County League and believe they will.

Last season they finished second from bottom and would have been relegated but for the inadequacy of the facilities at Cheshire League champions Prestbury.

They have recruited Neil Webb, a quick bowler and middle-order bat from Crewe.

Captain Richard Clorley said: 'I am optimistic. We disappointed ourselves last year and are convinced we are better than second from bottom.

'But we were inconsistent. In one week, for instance, we stuffed Congleton and then lost to bottom club Tattenhall.

'But with several juniors emerging we will have up to 16 players contesting first-team places.

'We have got to make the most of our reprieve. We have something to prove.

Middlewich begin at home to Burnage.