'We have to believe that we can win the Premier title again...'

GREG Prime insists his Hem Heath side must embrace the challenges facing them as they look to join an elite group.

- Chris Travers

Prime has guided Hem Heath to back-to-back Premier A titles - and achieving a hat-trick is a rare feat in local cricket. In recent times, only Longton in the early 2000s and Porthill Park between 2018 and 2020 have managed to be crowned champions three seasons on the bounce.

But that is the ambition for the Trentham Lakes outfit as they prepare to begin their campaign at newly-promoted Newcastle & Hartshill tomorrow.

"We are all ready to go again. We're starting a bit later this year, but everyone is keen to get going," said skipper Prime.

"We've had a good winter and everyone has trained hard. The main thing is to keep the players focused even though we've won the title for the past two years. We have to remain level headed and try to defend our title.

"We've done it once, then done it again, so we have to back ourselves to make it three in a row. If we achieve it, brilliant. That's certainly the aim for us."

Unsurprisingly, Hem Heath haven't altered their playing options much over the winter after their recent successes. Batsman Alec Price has joined from Moddershall & Oulton, while overseas seamer Ray Toole has signed up for another summer in the Potteries.

Prime believes that keeping the core of the squad together has been a crucial part of them sitting at the top of the local cricket ladder.

"We've got the same crop of players, bar Alex Price coming in to strengthen the batting. We're virtually the same side so we have to believe that we can do it (win the title)," added Prime.

"It plays a massive part that we've had a settled side for the last three or four years. Everyone knows each others game and you're not spending the first few weeks getting to know each other.