After a season competing against the best teams in Dorset in the Premier Division Portland Red Triangle return to NSA Division One this summer.

Despite being relegated at the end of last term, the islanders are hopeful of regaining their Premier League status for the 2004 season.

Although only successful in one game during the last campaign, Triangle went close to winning

several other matches and were by no means disgraced.

Portland will have a new man in charge this year as John Ryan takes over from Martin Hewson, who had to miss the second half of last season after sustaining a serious leg injury in the game against Parley.

The majority of last summer's squad will be on duty again this year and the team have been hard at work during net sessions at the island's Royal Manor School.

The new skipper is looking forward to his first full season in charge, although he knows that he has no easy task in leading the team's attempt to regain their place in the top flight.

"We know we will face some stern opposition during the season," he said, "But I am confident that the experience gained last year will stand us in good stead. We had a problem last year defending the totals that our batsmen scored, mainly because our bowling attack lacked a cutting edge, and hopefully the teams in Division One will not have the same sort of depth in batting that we faced last year.

"Ironically we scored more runs last season than we ever have done before, even though we were facing higher quality bowling than we had done in Division One.

"If our top order batsmen perform as well this year, we should be more than a match for most of the teams in the league."

The Portlanders begin their campaign on Saturday with a trip to Chapel Gate to play newly promoted Bournemouth, while West Moors provide the opposition for the first home game of the season, the following weekend. The first clash with local rivals Beaminster is at the Memorial Playing Filed on June 21, with the return at Reforne on August 23.

Ryan added: "It's a tough start for us, but we're looking forward to it. We'll be without Simon Browne and Dave Blackman who have football commitments, but they both should be ready for action the following week. In their place at Chapel Gate will be a couple of the club's promising youngsters and I'm all for blooding home grown talent and have every faith in their ability."

The club's other two teams compete in Saturday Division Six and Sunday Division Six and respective captains Grant Neven and Graham Elenor will both be looking to build on last season's successful campaigns.

DIVISION ONE FIXTURES

May

3 - Bournemouth & OBs (a)

10 - West Moors (h)

17 - Suttoners (a)

24 - Sherborne (h)

31 - Compton House (h)

June

7 - Wayfarers (a)

14 - Weymouth Seconds (h)

21- Beaminster (a)

28 - Marnhull (h)

July

5 - Bournemouth & OBs (h)

12 - West Moors (a)

19 - Suttoners (h)

26 - Sherborne (a)

August

2 - Compton House (a)

9 - Wayfarers (h)

16 - Weymouth Seconds (a)

23 - Beaminster (h)

30 - Marnhull (h)