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BURY St Edmunds Cricket Club captain Justin Bishop sees no reason why his team cannot claim the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League title (EAPL) this season.
Bury are third after taking four wins from the opening eight games and suffering just one defeat going into tomorrow's home game against Fakenham, 11am.
"I think we have made a good start because we lost quite a few players over the winter," said Bishop.
"It means the squad is lighter and we're playing younger players but it is good for their experience.
"I couldn't ask for any more from the lads, especially when we've been bringing teenagers into the first team. Swardeston won ten games last season to win the league (in an 18 game season compared to this season's 22-game campaign). It will probably take 15 or 16 wins this season and I don't see any reason why we can't do it."
Bury won the EAPL in 2005 and 2006 and were runners up last season behind Swardeston, who won the league for the second successive season.
In the winter, Bury lost batsmen Nick Lee, who returned to play for his home town team in Kent, while all-rounder Ben France dropped down to play for Copdock/OI in the Two Counties Championship.
Coming in at the Victory Ground has been batsman Oliver Huggins from EAPL rivals Godmanchester, all-rounder Pete Turnbull, who represented Cambridge UCCE against Essex last week, and former Cambridge University bowler Robin Kemp.
Bury have opted to not bring in a professional overseas player but Dane Frederik Klokker has joined the ranks and impressed as number three batsman.
The club have put their faith in youth, with King Edward VI School pupils Marcus Price and Adam Kizis being blooded in the first team.
The Victory Ground team started the season in style with a win at champions Swardeston but their only defeat of the season was a surprise loss to bottom-of-the table Halstead.
Bishop said: "The game we lost against Halstead is one we would have looked to have won at the start of the season, as they were newly promoted and especially as they set us a total of 175 to chase. We have drawn games but those are games that could have gone either way."
With leaders Swardeston to play again, and second-placed Vauxhall Mallards and fourth-placed Clacton still to play twice, Bishop knows there are plenty of chances to climb into the top spot in the remaining 14 games.
He said: "After beating Swardeston, we fancy our chances against most teams, if we play to our potential."
Bury had to settle for a draw on Saturday against Saffron Walden, after failing to claim their last two wickets.
Their innings of 265-3 saw them take maximum batting points, with opener Tom Huggins continuing his fine start to the season, hitting an unbeaten 145 meaning he is nearing 500 runs for the season, a similar total which he got for all of the last campaign.
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
