Hat-tricks are rare in any form of cricket but Hatherley and Reddings claimed one last season.

That’s because three of their four senior Saturday teams won promotion in 2016, including their first team under the captaincy of Owen Price.

The flagship team, who spinner Price will skipper for a second season in 2017, will now play in West of England Premier Two Glos/Wilts for the first time where they will lock horns with long-time rivals Cheltenham.

“It will be the first time we’ve played them in a Saturday League fixture,” said cricket chairman Jake Nickell. “It’s a big thing too for the club to be in the second tier of the West of England League.

“Our main aim is to stay up in the division. We are ambitious and eventually want to get into Premier One but at this stage we’ve got to be realistic.”

Nickell said he wasn’t sure when Hatherley were playing Cheltenham and insisted: “We get on quite well. There used to be a big rivalry but things are a lot friendlier now.”

Relations may be better but there will be no shortage of motivation when Price leads his side out against Cheltenham at the Victoria Ground on June 17.

The experienced Price used to play for Herefordshire and Brockhampton in the Birmingham League and his know-how will be essential as the club try to adapt in the new division.

“We’ve got a fairly young side,” said Nickell. “Nine of our regular first-teamers are under 25 and nine of them came through the youth set-up.”

Asked to pick out a couple of players who he expected to play key roles this season, Nickell said “Tom Hage and George Hill”.

“They are both 20 or 21. Tom is our opening bowler and bats four or five, while George bats at three and keeps wicket.

“Andre Soma, who used to captain the side, is another big player for us. He’s played first-class cricket in Zimbabwe and bats and bowls. He’s been our best player for the past few years although I’d say Tom is hot on his heels now.”

Nickell is also expecting big things from Jackson Edwards, their Australian import who is expected to share the new ball with Hage.

Edwards and Hage should find the North Park wicket to their liking in the early part of the season.

Nickell was at the club ground watching the pitch being rolled when he spoke to the Local Answer and said: “It’s a good cricket wicket, there’s something in it for the batsmen and the bowlers.

“It gets used a lot and we are to trying to cut down the number of matches being played there.

“A few years ago it was considered to be one of the best wickets for batting in the country which was great for batters but no good for bowlers.

“There will be a bit in the pitch in the early part of the season for the seamers and then once the sun gets on it it will start taking spin later in the season. For the batsmen you get good value for your runs because the outfield is fast.”

The wicket at the club’s second venue, South Park, tended to by club stalwart Dave Gorick is also in good nick, reports Nickell.

The club are also proud to play host to the Gloucestershire Growlers, the county’s blind team, who travel all over the country playing competitive cricket against other county sides that are also visually impaired.

There is also a hugely popular youth set-up at the club and Friday nights at the club ring out to shouts of “yes, no, wait, sorry” as 100 youngsters enjoy the popular coaching sessions.

Nickell, meanwhile, is in his third year as cricket chairman but doesn’t allow his off-field duties to interfere with playing and is again expecting to open the batting for the 2nd XI.

The 46-year-old moved to Cheltenham from Hertfordshire 25 years ago and was a new ball swing bowler who batted in the middle order when he first started playing for Hatherley in the early 1990s.

He has played a handful of games for the first team over the years and has concentrated on his batting since damaging his shoulder.

So, any chance of forcing his way back into the first team this year? “No way, he laughed, “I’m too fat and too old.”

• Hatherley host Cheltenham in Premier Two Glos/Wilts on August 19.

• Up to 30 members attended the club’s Cricket Force day, an annual event organised by cricket boards up and down the country, when members are encouraged to help get the club ready on and off the pitch for the new season.