SWINDON skipper Andy Staff says that his side must be looking to beat the top sides in WEPL Wiltshire if they are to move back up the divisions.

Following the restructuring of the leagues last season, Staff’s side found themselves relegated from Glos/Wilts Division.

While they have won one, lost one and had one abandoned, the wicketkeeper believes his team must see trips to teams like Trowbridge, who host Swindon tomorrow, as winnable ones.

Trowbridge started the new campaign with two wins before last weekend’s trip Westbury was washed out.

“It has been a stop-start season for us so far,” Staff said. “Yes, Trowbridge have had a good start to the season but this is a game we are looking forward to.

“It is a game that we should be winning if we want to be top or near the top of the division at the end of the season."

Following their opening day season defeat to Purton, which Staff puts down to the fact that his side were rusty after having seen all their pre-season matches washed out, Swindon have thrashed Devizes, the hosts were bowled out for 51, and had Great Bedwyn 46-3 after 18 overs last weekend before rain halted the match.

“It was massively frustrating that the (Great Bedwyn) game was abandoned,” Staff said.

“We were up at the ground on Friday night preparing for the game, we got to the ground early on Saturday to do everything we could to make it happen, it was just the rain beat us.

“What we can do is take a lot from the fact that we had them 46-3 after 18 overs.

“We have been bowling really well over the last couple of weeks and that has been pleasing.”

Staff also hailed the impact that overseas bowler Doug Baartman has had on the team.

The 30-year-old South African joined the club this spring as player-coach and the Swindon skipper says that the South Western District bowler has had no problem fitting in.

“He’s a really nice chap,” Staff said. “He has had no problem in finding his line and length on the English pitches.

“He is bowling with a lot of control and we haven’t really had to unleash him fully yet.

“Dougie is taking training on Wednesday nights and he has started a session on Friday nights which the boys are all buying into.”