THE absence of former skipper and star all-rounder Sean Walbridge will give two young players the chance to shine in the NSA Dorset Premier Division this season, says

county town skipper Tony Foot.

Minor Counties spinner Walbridge, so long the pivotal

player in Dorchester's first team, decided during the winter to further his cricketing career by stepping up to play for Southern League Bournemouth.

"Of course we will miss Sean because he was really two players for us - an opening bat and a 10-over bowler too," said Foot.

"We'll miss his enthusiasm as well - but on the positive side it will be good for our young cricketers who will now have a chance to establish themselves in the top Dorset league."

Experienced wicketkeeper and middle order batsman Paul Basssindale, whose appearances were intermittent last season through work commitments, is

likely to be available for most matches this time while left arm spinner Matthew Chalmers also joins the more senior group in the side.

But youth is what Dorchester will be all about this season.

"I'll be the old man of the side this season," said Foot. "But apart from Sean we'll probably have much the same squad as last year. Our best young players like Ian Sibley, Adam Rendell, Rob Waite and Quinten Miller have now had a good taste of playing in the Premier League and hopefully we will see the benefit of that this season.

"There are some more good youngsters coming through including Quinten's brother Justin who bowled exceptionally well when we played our first friendly at Street."

Nets have been well attended with around 40 players turning out and these have included several newcomers who could well figure in

the senior side as the season progresses.

But the county town club have no plans to travel the overseas player route which the majority of other clubs in the league have already followed.

"The problem is funding it because you are talking several thousand pounds to bring someone over and then you have to find them work," said Foot. "I'm not saying it's the wrong thing to do, it's just that we prefer to try and bring on our own youngsters because we believe it is also better for the local community if we do that ."

Away from the playing side Dorchester have a number of interesting developments in the pipeline.

A new electronic scoreboard being sponsored by various local businesses should be installed before the end of the season while the Rec wicket is scheduled to be dug-up and re-laid next autumn.

A new double-bay practice net should also be in place by the start of next season so that the club can concentrate all activities on their Weymouth Avenue headquarters..

Local businessses have also helped by sponsoring a roll-out Kwik Cricket wicket which makes it possible to play cricket on any open space. It will be used in June and July when youth cricket festivals are planned for Under-11 and Under-15 teams.

The annual Vice-presidents' Day will be held on the occasion of the Premier League fixture at home to Weymouth on July 19 with a lunch and tea for the guests.

Monthly barbecues are also planned to co-incide with alternate first and second team fixtures at the Rec. Meanwhile net sessions continue at St Osmund's School on Mondays for seniors and Wednesdays for the youth teams at 6.30pm and any newcomers will be made welcome.

PREMIER DIVISION FIXTURES

May

3 - Wimborne (a)

10 - Colehill (h)

17 - Weymouth (a)

24 - Stalbridge (h)

31 - Poole Town (a)

June

7 - Blandford (h)

14 - Parley (h)

21 - Broadstone (a)

28 - Hamworthy Rec (h)

July

5 - Wimborne (h)

12 - Colehill (a)

19 - Weymouth (h)

26 - Stalbridge (a)

August

2 - Poole Town (h)

9 - Blandford (a)

16 - Parley (a)

23 - Broadstone (h)

30 - Hamworthy Rec (a)