BARNT Green captain Andy Sutton believes his side can produce a repeat of last year’s heroics in the Birmingham League Premier.

The Cherry Hill Road side surprised everyone in 2014 by mounting a title charge and, while West Bromwich ended the season top of the table, it marked an impressive season by a new-look side.

Now in his second year as skipper, Sutton is looking for this youthful Green side to improve again.

Green have the same side which came so close to taking the title but have drafted in youngster Aadil Rashid but otherwise, the side is largely unchanged from that which came so close to the title.

They have lost the services of gifted young batsmen Sam Hain, who will be concentrating on his efforts playing for Warwickshire, but Bears spinner Josh Poysden, who signed a new one-year deal with the Edgbaston-based outfit, will feature for Green this season.

Sutton said: “The team is very settled but we have added three or four new faces who will bolster the squad and play their part,” said Sutton.

“Last season was fantastic considering it was my first year as skipper and a very new team, and we’ll be looking to be positive again.

“It’s about hard work in the nets and being focused in games.”

Green start the season with two home games, tackling Kenilworth Wardens at home in the league (noon start) on Saturday and then commencing the National Knockout Cup against Wombourne on Sunday (1pm start).

After an early exit in the knockout last year, Sutton is keen for his side to break into the competition’s later stages.

Green go into the campaign with plenty of momentum as they booked their place in the last four of the Graham Williamson Trophy with a win over Ombersley.

Sam Cheshire (68), William Baker (59) and Tom Banton (59) were among the runs as Green made 265-7 and kept Ombersley to 189-6 in 45 overs.

They face now play tackle Shrewsbury away in the last four on May 3.

l Meanwhile, Droitwich seconds enjoyed a useful run-out despite a six-wicket defeat to Hagley in their pre-season friendly at St Peter’s Fields on Saturday.

Defending 180-7, Spa had their higher league opponents in trouble with four wickets down at the mid-point of their reply but failed to capitalise as the fifth-wicket pairing took advantage of frequent four-ball opportunities and mis-fields.

However, there were plenty of plus-points for Droitwich face to take into their league opener at Alvechurch in their league opener this Saturday, hoping to build on including good contributions with the bat from Ashley Walton, Tom Gregory Duncan Hughes and George Taylor.