IT’S been an encouraging start for South Wilts as they pursue a fifth successive ECB Southern Premier League title.

They've won three league games on the trot but crunch time has arrived with old adversaries Havant next up.

A potential indicator towards the destination of this season’s honours could come after Saturday’s opening Time pennant affair at Bemerton (11.30am).

Havant have tugged on South Wilts’ shirt tails for the past three seasons, enjoying the occasional success, but generally they’ve lived in their shadow for far longer than they would have liked.

South Wilts skipper James Hayward is under no illusions about the challenge his side faces this weekend.

“The games against Havant are the one’s you play for. They are a good side and always are, and there’s a lot of mutual respect between the teams,” he said.

“Like us, they’ve won all three games, so it promises to be a good ‘un.”

South Wilts may have left-hander Eddie Abel back, but the little left-hander hasn’t picked up a bat yet this season due to back problems.

“That normally doesn’t worry him. He’s scored runs before without doing much practice,” Hayward chuckled.

South Wilts may consider themselves to have won their third match in a row at Lymington, who were probably kicking themselves after throwing away an opportunity to lower the colours of the four-times champions.

Spinner Dom Hand (5-49) took the bowling plaudits as Lymington restricted South Wilts to a modest 213-9 from their 50 overs.

After Matt Metcalfe (2-42) and Ed Freeman (1-27) had reduced the visitors to 57-3, Hand came on to break a fourth-wicket partnership of 72 between James Hayward and Joe Cranch.

It owed much to a stunning catch in the deep by Cameron Grierson, who superbly pouched Hayward (49) after he had attempted a reverse sweep to a delivery from Hand.

Hand also accounted for Cranch (33) and was assisted by the Solent University’s Richie Lock (1-42) as Lymington kept South Wilts in check.

"I think we were a little bit below where we should have been with the bat, “ Hayward conceded.

A tidy opening spell between Steve Warner and James Hibberd put Lymington behind the clock early on – Grierson and Hand managed only 13 runs in 11 overs - and their cause was not helped when Ryan Scott was forced to retire after damaging his groin taking a quick single, the Dorset man returning later to bat with a runner.

His enforced departure saw Ed Ellis (40) join Lewis McManus (56) at the crease, the pair guiding Lymington to 114-2.

“We drifted a bit in the middle as some partnerships formed,” Hayward added.

They were still well in the driving seat at 164 for four when McManus holed out to Luke Evans off the bowling of Jack Mynott (4-41).

Oliver Calcott and Chris Blake quickly followed and, although Simon Beetham (26) remained undefeated at the close, the collapse ensured Lymington would fall 10 runs short.

South Wilts skipper Hayward continued: “It was a really good win, the boys showed excellent character.

“James Hibberd and Steve Warner were superb and we squeezed Lymington in the middle period.

"We've still got room for improvement but we are getting better with each game."