GOATACRE captain Sam Parish hopes the peculiarities of the West of England Premier League rule-book will not scupper his side’s chances of back-to-back victories when they entertain Winsley in Wilts One tomorrow.

The visitors were the beneficiaries of an extremely generous ruling in their opening contest with Nationwide at the weekend, being asked to chase 86 from 32 overs after torrential rain disrupted the Croft Road side’s innings.

Now Parish is desperate for this weekend’s meeting of two of the most fancied teams in the division to be decided by talent rather than the weather.

“We have had that kind of thing happen to us before,” said the Goatacre captain of the Nationwide fiasco.

“It never seems to have helped us but it has gone against us in the past and it doesn’t seem to be fair.

“The most unbalanced thing is the rule states 30 overs of the second innings have to be completed for a game to be counted, and that’s just a huge proportion.

“There is little that can be done which doesn’t involve carrying around computers or a knowledge of Duckworth/Lewis. I just hope it doesn’t come to it.”

Parish expects the Goatacre strip to provide ample assistance to batsman and bowler alike after the club’s groundsmen spent the spring tending to a surface which drew wide criticism last season.

“It’s playing very well and so far we have had a lot of positive feedback for it,” he said.

“We were criticised last year for a lack of grass cover on it but we’ve looked at it and now it is a lot better.

“It’s offering a bit for everyone, which is important because on our ground a batsmen’s pitch would mean huge scores every week.

“There should be good pace, bounce and carry which will make it for an interesting game.”

Without overseas run-machine Terrence Duffin smashing opposition out of the contest within the opening 15 overs, Winsley’s line-up looked fallible as they slumped to 45-6 against Nationwide last time out.

And Parish is confident on seizing on that apparent weakness to gain an important win.

“They have good bowling options, but without their overseas they aren’t scoring so many runs,” he said.

“We just have to go in there and get our heads ahead early.”