Nathan Hawkes is determined to see High Wycombe take advantage of Henley’s stuttering form and move to the top of the table for the first time this season.

The reigning champions had started the season in ominous fashion, winning their opening eight matches of the campaign.

But defeat to Wycombe was followed by a 19-run loss to Reading on Saturday, opening the door to Hawkes’ team who are now just three points behind them.

Having just racked up their seventh win from ten matches, Hawkes was delighted to receive news of their title rivals’ defeat on Saturday evening.

“I’d just driven home and I got a phone call when I got back saying that they’d lost, so that was quite nice to see that and we’ve closed the gap to three points now,” he said.

“I said a few weeks ago that I couldn’t see any other team apart from us, Banbury and Slough being the ones to upset them, but Reading have pulled one out the bag on Saturday and beaten them. It’s done us a massive favour.”

Division One of the Home Counties league is turning into a three horse race, with Hawkes’ old team Banbury, who he left in the winter, just nine points behind them in third.

Saturday’s round of matches throws up another potential banana skin for Henley, who play host to Slough – the only team to beat Wycombe so far this season.

Hawkes and his men have what, on paper, appears to be the easiest game on the fixture list as they travel to rock bottom Oxford, who are still looking for their first win of the season and are 49 points adrift of safety with eight matches left to play.

The Wycombe skipper said: “I wouldn’t mind seeing the result go Slough’s way on Saturday. They’ve (Henley) had a few slip-ups so far this season, so you never know.

“We’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing and as long as we keep winning the rest will take care of itself.

On the match against Oxford, he added: “Saturday’s going to be a tough game at their place. The wicket’s a lot different to what we play on at home and, obviously, they’re fighting to get away from relegation, so we’re expecting a tough one. Hopefully we can come out on top.

“In terms of the rest of the teams in the league in terms of depth, they’re probably the weakest. You never know and cricket’s all about how you play on the day, so we’ll see what Saturday brings.”