IN McKinnells League Division Three there is an almighty basement clash in prospect between local rivals Nocton and Bardney.

Nocton will make the short six-mile trip to their neighbours on Sunday as each side search for their first wins in over 10 matches.

David Glew will be hoping to inspire his side to victory.

In their last encounter in May Nocton came out on top with a seven-wicket victory, but Nocton captain David Franklin is of the belief Sunday's encounter will be no walk in the park against their huge rivals.

"It should be a good game on Sunday and will be one we need to win if we are to avoid finishing bottom of the table, as the only team beneath us in the league," said Franklin.

"We beat them earlier in this season in the reverse fixture but our side has been weakened since then, so it is likely to be a sterner test.

"There's always been a good rivalry between the clubs and our league positions will make this game all the more intense.

"It's good banter between the two teams though, especially myself behind the stumps as wicket-keeper."

Nocton lie 10th in the table, just nine points ahead of Bardney, and have struggled to just two wins all season.

Franklin, though, who has played at this level for 21 years, has put the team's struggles down to an exodus of players in the summer but the skipper maintains that the emphasis is on 'fun' at Nocton.

"We have never been a team that's been bothered by success, we enjoy the game more and seek to have some fun with the sport," he said.

"I think it's for these reasons that we lost a lot of our better players from last season, who wanted to pursue trophies, and why perhaps we are languishing in the lower reaches."

The departures at the club have left a very young side at Nocton and despite those lowered expectations under the tutelage of Franklin, it is hoped there is a side for the future being built.

"We have a very young side with only myself at 38 and David Glew at 65 the only experienced heads. The rest of the team are teenagers," he said. "At the start of the season we were always going to risk the chance of struggling in the division, so it's something we were prepared for.

"The experience that these young lads are getting right now should prove invaluable in the future, and in two to three years we could have the makings of an impressive team."

From what has been a poor season there have been some guiding lights in the Nocton dressing room who have shone with bat and ball.

In particular the 65-year-old Glew, who has more than impressed with 12 wickets this season.

Things may have been different for Nocton this season had bowler Ryan Plummer not suffered a back injury earlier in the season, a player that had a bowling average of 8.83 before being sidelined.

"David (Glew) has bowled superbly this season which has been important with him being one of the experienced players, and then there's Peter Packwood who has started to bowl well.

"We very unlucky to lose Ryan earlier this season, he has had a back injury. We've missed him."