Neighbours going head to head at The Bratch

The two clubs are just a mile apart and the visitors could name as many as seven former Beacon players in their XI.

“You can walk between the grounds in almost no time at all and there are still quite a few of their lads who still come and have a drink in our club after matches,” explained Beacon skipper Dan Green.

“It has always been a rivalry and there has always been a little bit more riding on it. It isn’t a grudge match or anything like that, everyone gets on well. But it is natural to want to put one over on your rivals.”

Both clubs expect to be challenging for the title this season and head into the match having recorded convincing wins last weekend.

Beacon cruised to a 168-run victory at Rugeley with brothers Jake and Matt Cartwright the stars.

After 64 from Jake helped Beacon reach 241-9 from their 50 overs, Matt tore through the Rugeley middle-order with the ball, finishing with figures of 5-20 as the hosts were skittled for just 73.

Wombourne were similarly dominant in an eight-wicket win at Wolverhampton seconds, seamer Tom Hudson taking 5-22 as their hosts were bowled out for just 145. Opener Nathan Howell then smashed 66 from just 41 balls to put a significant dent in a chase which took just 31.1 overs.

“Wombourne look a strong unit this year,” said Green. “They seem to have recruited well over the winter.

“We’re pretty happy where we are too. Saturday will be a game between two good teams and I expect it to be pretty close.”

While Wombourne sit third in the early-season table, it is Milford Hall who lead the way after they held their nerve to edge a thriller against Old Wulfrunians Tettenhall.

Kevin Royce’s 51 and important lower-order contributions from Tom Eley (37) and Ejaz Nawaz (30) helped Milford post 184 batting first. It didn’t look like being enough when Old Wulfs, thanks to Adeesha Tilanchana’s 55, sat on 168-6 with seven overs still remaining.

But after Chris Dean dismissed Mathusuthan Rabindranath for 24, the visitors collapsed, Sahal Malvernkar claiming the final three wickets – including the last two in three balls – as Milford scraped home by just four runs.

Fordhouses are off the mark for the season thanks to a three-wicket win at Hammerwich.

Skipper Chris Guest took 4-32 as the home side were bowled out for 146 despite a solid 68 from Craig Jennings.

At 112-7 in reply, Fordhouses looked like falling short before an unbroken stand between Zak Shah (34 not out) and Lewis Peat (19 not out) saw them over the line.

Brewood had a day to forget as they were well beaten at home by Tamworth. After the visitors racked up 313-5 declared batting first, skipper Richard Bradford top scored for the hosts with 39 as they were bowled out for 156.

Elsewhere, Lichfield claimed 18 points from a draw at Penkridge. Jack Warren scored 130 and Stuart Fielding blasted an unbeaten 112 from just 86 balls as the visitors reached 295-3 from 50 overs. Despite 79 from Attiq Chisti, it always looked too much for Penkridge, who finished on 211-9.