Canterbury Cricket Club are relishing their Kent League Premier Division return this weekend.

The Polo Farm side, 2023 Championship winners, will start their competitive action at Tunbridge Wells on Saturday.

“It’s good to be back up in there again,” said captain Jarryd Taig.

“It’s been five years. Last year was the culmination of a lot of hard work.

“Now, we’re looking forward to the new challenge.”

Ironically, seven days after facing Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury’s first home game will be a derby against St Lawrence & Highland Court.

The Shrimps impressed on their Kent League Premier Division return, as veteran former Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens helped inspire them to a fourth-placed finish last year.

Their performances are something Canterbury are hoping to take inspiration from.

Taig, aiming to be fit for that game as he recovers from a back/hip injury he sustained in Australia over the winter, said: “They have done well with their recruiting over the last few years.

“They have got Stevo and (Kent player) Jack Leaning plays when he can. We follow them quite closely and saw their results and could see how they got into winning positions.

“We’re hoping to mimic that.

“It’s sort of a rivalry game. But they are really good blokes, as well.

“Staying up is the main goal - that will allow us to establish ourselves as a Premier Division club.”

While some players have moved on, there’s plenty of talent in Canterbury’s squad and Taig hopes they thrive playing top-flight club cricket.

“Tom Davis has gone back to Lordswood,” he explained. “He leaves a bit of a hole to fill in our middle order.

“Jack Wheeler has stepped away for personal reasons, as well. But we have managed to build around what we have got.

“We have got a lot of young players coming through. In the pre-season games, we gave them a fair chance.

“Billy Amaouche is a really good young player. If we can get him firing, it makes it easier for Jarred Lysaught and myself in the middle order.”

Canterbury’s weekend hosts, Tunbridge Wells, finished third in 2023.

Taig said: “It will be good to see where we’re at with all the younger players.

“A lot of them would never have played against that quality of opposition before.

“It will be a good learning curve and, hopefully, they can take that on.”

Among Canterbury’s ranks for the season will be Anthony Mosca, an Australian all-rounder, who plays for Italy and was recommended by international team-mate and Kent man Grant Stewart.

“He has played a few years of international cricket,” noted Taig. “He’s an all-rounder.

“We’re looking forward to seeing how well he does in the league because he’s quite a competitive person.

“They have got (European) qualifiers in June up in Scotland. He’ll be away for two or three weeks then.”

St Lawrence & Highland Court 1sts are set to begin their Kent League Premier Division campaign at home to Bickley Park this Saturday after starting their competitive season with a win on Sunday.

They eased to an eight-wicket National Club Championship victory against Gravesend 1sts.

Thomas Copestake (6-32) was the pick of the bowlers in the visitors’ 40-over total of 153-8 before an unbeaten 95 by skipper Matt Hammond got them home inside just 18 overs.

St Lawrence host divisional rivals Minster in the same competition on Sunday, with Australian overseas Jason Sangha having arrived in the country.