PREVIOUSLY winless Totton & Eling sprang the surprise of the season by defeating double ECB Southern Electric Premier League champions South Wilts by 32 runs at Bemerton.

Getting themselves into the driving seat with a century opening partnership between George Marshall and Tom Arnold, they fell away to post 209-9.

And teenage South Australian prospect Cameron Valente, pictured, took 5-46, bowling a weakened South Wilts – captain Tom Morton was among the absentees - out for 177 to record their first win of the season.

The spadework was done in the morning session when left-hander Marshall (83) and Solent University student Arnold (35) put on 108.

Once the opening stand had been broken, it was left to skipper James Taylor (51) to guide his side past the 200- run mark and give his bowlers an opportunity.

Taylor had six different partners as teenage leg spinner Jack Richards (3-36), Rob Franklin (2-52) and latterly James Hibberd (2-38) made inroads.

With four of last season’s title winning side absent, South Wilts had a fight on their hands to secure a third straight Premier Division win.

Jack Mynott (34) and Tom Pearce (23) eased their reply to 71-1.

But, coming on as first change, Australia under 19 seamer Valente struck three critical blows, removing Mynott, James Hayward and later Hibberd (32).

South Wilts dropped to 117- 5 before losing their last five wickets for 27 runs, leftarmer James Haggaty finishing with 3-23.

It was South Wilts’ first defeat in three outings – a situation Morton will want to address when he returns to lead the defending champions at Lymington on Saturday (11.30am).