PURTON captain Mark Gardner is keen to see his new-look side prove themselves over the course of a full game when they entertain Nationwide in Wilts One tomorrow.

Gardner, pictured left, has cut a frustrated figure after Purton’s meetings with both Marlborough and Malmesbury fell victim to the weather in the opening fortnight of the season.

But, with better weather on the horizon, the skipper is confident his charges will kick-start their campaign in this vitally important fixture.

By their own admission, Purton will find picking up points difficult this season with their makeshift squad of last year’s second-teamers and a fresh crop of inexperienced, but vastly talented youngsters.

So victory over Nationwide, who found maintaining their Wilts One status last year a somewhat turbulent affair, is almost a necessity if Gardner & Co are to make a concerted effort at survival.

“We certainly need to win a few this season,” said the captain. “By no means does that mean we are treating this as a guaranteed win, but it is important.

“It is big to be at home and we have to take advantage. Not being able to get a game so far has been a bit of a problem as we wanted to see how everyone was shaping up. We hope this weekend we can do both - see how everyone is and get the win.”

Whilst Gardner expects the Purton track to play into the hands of the batsmen, particularly after several days of sunshine, he is wary of the twin spin threat of Mark Flay and Andy Lewis, who both put in respectable shifts in Nationwide’s loss to Lechlade last time out.

“When bowlers are very slow, they are very difficult to play, especially if they get some turn,” he said.

“Although the pitch is unlikely to have worn enough to turn, anyone who bowls straight is generally successful at this level and they don’t go for many.

“Mark and Andy are decent lads to have and we’ll have to be careful.”