CHAIRMAN Steve de Souza says merging Burghill & Tillington and Weobley Cricket Clubs was important to ensure another club would not fall by the wayside.

Now called Burghill, Tillington and Weobley Cricket Club, the first team will be competing in Division One of the Worcestershire County League and kick-off their new campaign with a home game against Worcester Nomads this Saturday.

"The amalgamation makes sense for both clubs," said de Souza.

"Every year cricket clubs are going out of existence for various reasons.

"It looked like Weobley would fold since they were finding it difficult to put out a team week in, week out.

"Once a club folds it is very difficult to resurrect, cricket in the village would be lost forever.

"The amalgamation allows cricket to continue being played in Weobley and the Weobley players to aspire to play a higher standard of cricket in the Worcestershire League or continue to play with their team mates in the Marches League.

"For Burghill & Tillington, it means we now have a long term home for the third team.

"This team is important to the club since it acts as a pathway for juniors to make their way into the hustle and bustle of senior cricket."

Burghill's overseas player is New Zealander Cameron McNaught, while Owen Morgan will remain captain.

"For the coming season we are hoping our first team can stabilize in Division One, the same for our second team, who play in Division Two," added de Souza.

"Our third team play in Division Three of the Marches League.

"We were promoted last season so stability would be the name of the game this year."