Peel: No after-effects from title heartbreak

The Shropshire County Cricket League season gets under way on Saturday with Wem heavily fancied to challenge again.

They missed out on promotion due to their head-to-head record with Newport after both sides finished level on points.

But Peel believes his side are ready to go as they welcome newly-promoted Albrighton in their opening fixture.

"We had a really good season last year but just come up against something special in Newport's overseas player (Rajat Bhatia)," he said.

"Rather than dwelling on what happened, we held our hands up and said we came up against something brilliant.

"The disappointment won't linger over. We've improved our points tally each year that I've been in charge.

"I'd like to think we will be there or thereabouts and if somebody plays better, then fair play to them.

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"We've lost Harry Chandler to Shifnal at the top of the order but we have a new overseas player in Kerwin Mungroo."

Sentinel (formerly Reman Services) were another side who went into the final game last year with a chance of winning the title.

The club recently took the decision to revert to Sentinel, their original name when the Albert Road outfit was formed in 1949.

Skipper Ed Ashlin insists Sentinel cannot wait to get going again ahead of Saturday's trip to St Georges.

All-rounder Joe Yapp has arrived from relegated Cound while wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Matthews, a proven run scorer, has made the switch from Worfield to compete for the gloves with Connor Cheshire.

Now Sentinel have added an exciting overseas player by signing Australian Elliot Hitchen, a top order batsman and off-spinner, from Perth club Claremont Nedlands. He replaces up-and-coming South Australian batsman Connor Dudley, who has joined Shifnal.

Ashlin said: "We were made aware of Elliot's availability through Paul Donaldson, the former Shrewsbury and Shelton player who plays at Claremont."

Ashlin also has big hopes for Yapp and Matthews, who will add extra depth to the Sentinel squad.

"Joe did really well at Cound and knows the lads already, so he's an excellent signing," said Ashlin. "Tom, who lives close to the ground, is another very good signing for us and has scored hundreds in this league. It all makes my job a little bit tougher when it comes to selection."

Ashlin added he also hopes long-serving bowler Shane Gwilt, ruled out through injury last season, will soon be back in the frame.

Winning at St Georges, Saturday's hosts, was one of the highlights last season, stressed Ashlin, who is keen that Sentinel emerge as contenders once again this term.

"I think it will be really competitive this season," he said. "There's six teams with a good chance. We're keen to try and be successful and get promotion.

"We know it's not going to be easy but we just need to play to our ability."

Quatt skipper Jonathan Edwards is keen for them to avoid a repeat of the slow start they suffered in 2015.

They open up against last season's Division One runners-up Shelton and are still hoping to add to their squad with additions from Birmingham League side Stourbridge.

"Hopefully we can push towards the top a bit more," said Edwards. "We had a slow start last year and we want to improve on that.

"We had come down from the Birmingham League and seemed to suffer a bit of a hangover. We had a decent run in the middle when we woke up to the fact the Shropshire League is a very good level of cricket and teams weren't just going to roll over for us.

Australian Graham Yates, who can bowl spin, has joined to bolster the top order but Hayden Cargo has returned to New Zealand.

Madeley, who narrowly avoided the drop last year, open with a trip to Ludlow & South Shropshire.

Bomere Heath host Broseley, who are boosted by the signing of Anthony Parker from Birmingham League champions Shrewsbury, with both sides looking to improve on their lower-half finishes from last term.