Dion Stovell and Malachi Jones have returned to Southampton Rangers from Eastern Counties teams St David’s and Bailey’s Bay for the 2018 cricket season.

Rangers have also picked up Nyhrobi Carmichael, the young Bay seam bowler, and Western Stars and Bermuda batsman Tre Manders, as they prepare for the start of the new season on April 21-22 with the Open League. The deadline for the initial transfer period was last Thursday.

Western Stars have also lost all-rounder Brian Hall, who has moved to St David’s, and youngster Dalin Richardson, who is joining Somerset Cricket Club.

“Yes I have gone St David’s, just sorting out the paperwork before the end of tomorrow and it will be official,” Hall told The Royal Gazette prior to the deadline. He has family in St David’s, the Lambs, so playing for the club was something Hall has wanted to do. “There were a few factors in my move after 13 years down at Western Stars. I wanted to play for my St David’s family so everyone can have the chance to see me play for their home club.

“Playing Eastern Counties would just be a bonus on going to St David’s. I’m looking forward for a new challenge and responsibility in the St David’s side.”

For Jones, the move back to Rangers comes nine years after he last played for his home club in the league. Jones joined Willow Cuts in 2010 before moving to Bailey’s Bay in 2015. He played for Bay in the Eastern Counties and will still be eligible to do so as he qualified through the residency rule, having lived in the area for two years.

Stovell last played for Rangers in 2015 when he helped them win the league before joining St David’s the following year. Stovell played a big role in helping St David’s win back to back league titles the last two years.