STOURPORT skipper Craig Siwicki has called on his team to fill the gap left by his brother, Andy.

Andy Siwicki re-joined Kidderminster Victoria as part of a major recruitment drive by the Birmingham League Premier Club during the winter.

The batsmen had a prolific three seasons scoring 1,135, 755 and 954 respectively.

Father and son Andy and Dan Platt have also left to join local rivals Bewdley.

Stourport are also keen to bounce back after relegation to Worcestershire County League Division Three.

“Andy scored an awful lot of runs so we are bound to miss him, but it’s up to the team to make up for his loss,” said the skipper.

“Kidderminster is a good standard of cricket so you can’t blame him for going back.

“But it’s up to myself, Bevan Neill and Ryan Delo to score over 500 runs this season.

“We also want to bounce back from relegation. We’re looking forward to what the season holds for us.”

Stourport made a strong start to the season as they saw off Avoncroft by ten wickets With the chance of rain interruptions during the game they won a crucial toss and elected to field.

Tight bowling from the Stourport seamers restricted Avoncroft’s run rate in the early overs. Will Downes the pick of the seamers with 2-14 from 7 overs.

The introduction of leg spinner Matthew Delo saw the Avoncroft innings collapse to 101 all out. Delo returning excellent figures of 5-12 from 10 overs.

In reply, Stourport chased down a revised target of 87 for victory with ease.

Neill was 58 not out and Michael Pratt 28 not out sharing an unbroken opening stand as Stourport cruised passed the Avoncroft score in the 18th over.

This Saturday, Stourport travel to Gloucestershire to face league newcomers Bredon.