JAMIE Wakefield says Rockhampton are aiming towards the top of the West of England Premier League Prem Two Glos/Wilts division.

Wakefield has taken over from wicketkeeper Jack Spence at the Boundary Field this season, and admitted the campaign will be ‘tricky’.

It has not got off to the best starts for Rockhampton who lost their opening match at Dumbleton at the start of the month and then fell away at home to Cheltenham last Saturday.

Neverthless, batsman and bowler Wakefield believes his side can get into their stride, particularly as they play Biddestone at home this weekend, another side who have lost both their league matches so far.

Wakefield said: “This year will be a tricky season. Everyone will beat everyone else in this league so we will be happy with mid-table but top four is where we aim to be.

“Obviously, we will always be trying to fight for promotion but realistically mid-table or top four would be ideal for us.

“We finished fourth in the end last year, most of the season without an opening bowler. This year we have one back but Will Cartlidge is still struggling with his back so he is coming off a shorter run-up. In my opinion, we are still a bowler short.

“We have a young spinner in Ryan Tyler who debuted last week. He is 18 years old and we have a lot of youth coming through the team.

“We haven’t had anyone else coming into the team other than through the youth side. We have lost Richard Howell through retirement and Tristan De Beer who is overseas but hopefully he will be back in July as he waits for his visa to come through.”

And Rockhampton will be looking to get to the home of English cricket – Lord’s – again in the Village Knock-out.

The club skipper added: “We take the Village Knock-out very seriously down here. We have just had a bye through to the second round. We made Lord’s a couple of years ago and we have every chance of making through as we have most of the first team out on a Sunday so it is pretty much a priority.”

It is my first year as captain and I have just taken over from Jack Spence.

This year will be a tricky season. Everyone will beat everyone else in this league so we will be happy with mid-table but top four is where we aim to be.

Obviously, we will always be trying to fight for promotion but realistically mid-table or top four would be ideal for us.

We finished fourth in the end last year, most of the season without an opening bowler. This year we have one back but Will Cartlidge is still struggling with his back so he is coming off a shorter run-up. In my opinion, we are still a bowler short.

We have a young spinner in Ryan Tyler who debuted last week. He is 18 years old and we have a lot of youth coming through the team.

We haven’t had anyone else coming into the team other than through the youth side. We have lost Richard Howell through retirement and Tristan De Beer who is overseas but hopefully he will be back in July as he waits for his visa to come through.

Personally, I am still waiting for the all-elusive league ton so you never know this season may be the one.

We take the Village Knock-out very seriously down here. We have just had a bye through to the second round. We made Lord’s a couple of years ago and we have every chance of making through as we have most of the first team out on a Sunday so it is pretty much a priority.

There has been a lot going on off the field with the Gloucestershire second XI coming down here. There is a lot of excitement around the club at the moment. It is a big year in transition.

Gloucestershire have put a lot of money into us and we have the new square laid now for next season.