The new side will play their games at Port Soif. (0432675)

OPTIMISTS and Rovers are joining forces in weekend championship cricket from next season.

Although two of the oldest clubs in the island and historically the most successful, both have been struggling over the last few years to field competitive sides.

And with local cricket undergoing one of its biggest upheavals next year with the introduction of an expanded Channel Islands League that will replace both Guernsey’s and Jersey’s domestic weekend leagues, the two have opted to club together.

The announcement was made following a meeting between Optimists’ senior players Andy Biggins and Mark Jefferies and Rovers’ committee at Rovers’ Port Soif clubhouse on Wednesday night.

‘To be honest, I don’t think this is something that either ourselves or Optimists really wanted, but we both admitted that we each need an influx of players if we are to field a meaningful side in the new CI competition, which we all very excited about, so a merger was the only option,’ said Rovers team manager Aaron Scoones.

‘But saying that, if we had to join forces with another club, it would be Optis. They’ve got some serious cricketers, but more importantly they are a good bunch of lads.