NPL weekend preview: Mills travel to new leaders

The Villagers are unbeaten this season, and have won their last three games outright.

MHM are bottom of the table, and winless so far, but have proved a tough nut to crack with a powerful batting line up.

The match also showcases the league’s leading wicket-taker, Martin Weightman, up against the top two batsmen, Gareth Curtis and Tom New.

After slipping from the top spot with defeat last week, Cuckney will expect to bounce straight back as they entertain a Radcliffe-on-Trent side still looking for a positive result.

Cuckney’s Luke Thomas comes into the game having set the highest individual score of the season (146) in defeat to Kimberley, while for Radcliffe, Josh Mierkalns is third in the league in total runs.

Rolls Royce Leisure sit third in the table, 11 points behind Clifton, and they will look to continue their good form when Welbeck Colliery come to Derby.

The Colliers have not won in the league since opening day, but will be boosted by their Royal London Cup win last weekend.

Fourth-placed West Indian Cavaliers will welcome sixth-placed Plumtree to Birchover Park in a clash of teams showing solid form. Only bonus points separate sides who have both achieved two wins.

Ordsall Bridon will want to see their batsmen bounce back after being shot out for just 81 last week. Having failed to avoid defeat so far this season, they will also want to put a good result on the board when fifth-placed Kimberley Institute come calling to All Hallows Street. Kimberley have been Jekyll and Hyde so far, winning two and losing two.

The Notts Academy side have also failed to avoid defeat so far this year, and with the gap between them and the mid-table sides growing, they will be looking for a better result at Lady Bay on Saturday against Caythorpe. The Acorns of Caythorpe have been very good at home, but woeful away so far this season.

The Bank Holiday Monday programme sees a big clash at the top of the table as Clifton Village go to West Indian Cavaliers, where a win could potentially lift them over 40 points clear of the defending champions.

There’s a derby clash at Langwith Road where Cuckney will host Welbeck Colliery, further intrigue added as Richard Stroh returns to the club where he spent many successful seasons.

Rolls Royce Leisure will be looking to keep up the pressure, and take advantage of whoever slips up at Birchover Park, when the visit Mansfield Hosiery Mills at The Fieldings.

Plumtree will host Caythorpe, both sides looking to move from the mid-table group to the upper echelons.

Kimberley Institute play host to the struggling NCB Academy side, and finally, in what already looks like an important clash in the struggle to avoid relegation, something has to give as two winless sides do battle. Radcliffe-on-Trent welcome Ordsall Bridon with both sides desperate to get something in the ‘W’ column.

All games are scheduled to commence at 12.30pm.