Congresbury captain Justin Yau says last year's effects of the coronavirus pandemic have made them “even hungrier and more eager to do well”, following the release of fixtures for the 2021 season.

The 2020 campaign saw grassroots cricket suspended until July 11 before they were put in one of nine West of England Premier groups, set up to divide 69 teams in their attempt to tackle Covid-19, alongside Bedminster, Bristol, Bishopston, Clevedon and Winterbourne.

And Yau says they will put all that behind them as they get ready to give everything they can to have a good season.

“(We are) really excited. It’s nice to have a schedule up and hopefully we can tackle the season this year similar to 2019 when we have our proper league,” said Yau.

“Of course it was a disappointment as we were geared up for a good challenge for the WEPL3 competition.

“Hopefully we can use that time to good effect moving forward as it’s made a number of us even hungrier and more eager to do well both personally and collectively this year.

“I think our aims would be to win as many games as possible to see where it takes us.

“It’s a tough league and anyone can beat anyone on their day so it would be nice to compete with the top teams.

“We can then set some goals midway through the season depending on how we have started.”

The opening match sees Congresbury up against Twyford House at King George V Playing Fields, after both teams beat each other on the road during the 2019 season.

And Yau says his side have to be on top of their game if they are to come away with the win.

“It’s always nice to start with a home game to get the season up and running,” he added.

“Let’s hope we have a nice stretch of weather in the run-up to the season so it can be nice and flat!

“They are a really good side with match winners. We are quite evenly matched at full strength and it’ll lead to some really good, competitive cricket when we start.

“We know we have to hit the ground running to ensure we make a good start to the season.”