WEYMOUTH Tandoori are winding themselves up for an over-the-Ridgeway raid on Dorchester's cricketing trophies.

The former champions of the resort's evening league, whose challenge since they switched to compete in the county town set-up a couple of seasons ago has failed to live up to expectations, have taken over at the top of Division One from title favourites Casuals after two defeats of Puddletown.

They also have a KO Cup semi-final clash with the Dorchester big guns in the offing.

Tandoori reached the cup semi-final by disposing of Cattistock whose run chase ended with them just five runs short of their target.

Batting first, Tandoori lost a wicket without scoring. But Dean Jannaway (40) and Tom England (44) led a recovery which was carried on by Trevor Warren (15) until a good spell from veteran John Swatridge (4-21) engineered a collapse that saw four wickets fall for the addition of only 19 runs.

A target of 133 was fairly modest on the tight Cattistock ground but though Ben Golledge (37) and Mick Nobbds (26) put their side in with a fighting chance, they slipped just below the asking rate against the bowling of Dave Trotter (2-20) and Paul Baker (2-27) and 27 off the last over was just beyond them.

St George's will face Dewlish in the other semi-final after they beat Moreton Mowers by the same five-run margin in their quarter-final tie.

St George's also lost their first wicket without scoring leaving Mark Derrien (19) and Neil Paul to stage a recovery. Paul Townsend (31no) and Steven Rowe (41) kept the scoreboard ticking over and their total of 126-6 left Mowers needing more than six an over.

They began in style with Andy Jarvis (48) going great guns, but despite good contributions from Simon Browne (27), Steve Clifford (15no) and Dean Smy (13) they were five runs short at the end.

Division One

WEYMOUTH TANDOORI 175-1 (Dave Young 66no, Dean Janaway 65no, Julian Hamilton-Taylor 35, Dan Belt 1-40) beat PUDDLETOWN 165-4 (Ian Belt 68, Jim Ryall 41, D.Belt 21no, Steven Chaldecott 14, Paul Baker 2-41)

Tandoori got off to a flying start at Redlands with Hamilton-Taylor and Janaway putting on 56 for the first wicket. Then Young and Janaway had an unbeaten partnership of 140 to set Puddletown a massive target of over eight an over.

Ryall and Ian Belt took up the challenge with 79 for the first wicket before Ryall was bowled by Baker. That brought in Chaldecott who joined Belt to put on another 46 before he was caught by McDonald. This brought young Dan Belt in and father and son put on another 17 before Belt senior was stumped by Young and the runs started to dry up leaving Puddletown ten short at the end.

WEYMOUTH TANDOORI 111-7 (Dean Janaway 45, Tom England 17, Dave Trotter 13, Mel Whitelock 3-21, Dan Belt 3-25) beat PUDDLETOWN 90-8 (Paul Crocker 15no, D.Belt 17, Tom Hewish 14, Trotter 2-17, Paul Payne 4-23, Paul Baker 2-27)

In the second battle between the clubs Tandoori again got another good start from Hamilton-Taylor and Janaway who put on 42 for the first wicket. But the runs gradually dried up and 111 was only a modest score on Puddletown Rec. However the home side's batsmen could not find any form and after three wickets fell for just 19 runs they were never posed a serious threat.

DORCHESTER CASUALS 99-4 (Paul Bassindale 25no, Sean Walbridge 21, Pete Diffey 15, Brian Keegan 12no, Roger Edmunds 2-24) beat PLUSH 98-8 (Graeme Stephens 19, Paul Swaffield 17, Guy Watson 16, Derek Knight 11, R Hodges 3-33)

Plush's total never looked like being enough and although there ws some success for their bowlers with the valuable wickets of Dorset Premier League regulars Walbridge, Foot and Diffey, the steady batting of Keegan and Bassindale saw Casuals home with just two balls to spare.

Division Two

CATTISTOCK 134-2 (Martin Langford 58, Ben Golledge 32, Luke Foster 12no, Steven Chaldecott 1-23) beat PUDDLETOWN RESERVES 117-9 (Dan Belt 74no, Martin Whitelock 18, John Swatridge 4-31, Langford 2-15)

Cattistock raced away with Langford and Golledge putting on 101 for the first wicket. Puddletown were in trouble after losing their first wicket for one and although Dan Belt and Martin Whitelock put on 61 they had hardly any suppport.

Abbotsbury 126-3 (John Pengelly 67no, Robin Potter 16no, Kevin Singleton 14, Tony Belt 1-10) beat PUDDLETOWN RESERVES 103-7 (Dan Belt 32no, Martin Whitelock 21,Tom Hewish 14, Steven Budd 3-21)

Abbotsbury lost their opening bat without scoring but recovered thanks mainly to an unbeaten half century from Pengelly. Puddletown's reply started well but petered out to leave them 23 runs short.

Division Three

HAZELBURY BRYAN 72-7 (Adam Dawson 15, Darren Bealing 11no, Marc Lewis 9, Raj Lehal 2-17, Michael Churchill 2-21) beat CERNE VALLEY 65-9 (Hari Lehal 29, Tristan Todd 14, Dawson 2-8, Jim Bettle 3-10, Lewis 2-21)

All of Hazelbury's batsmen contributed something to what seemed a low total that would present Cerne with few problems as they sought their first win of the season. But it wasn't to be against the bowling of Bettle and Lewis.

BERE REGIS 55-2 (Tom Bennett 20no, Russell Hewitt 16, Nick Dominy 1-11) beat BOVINGTON ENGINEERS 52 AO (Vaughan Williams 17, Dominy 9, Luke White 3-2, Nick White 3-11)

Bovington found it hard to score on the Bere Regis wicket and 52 was no where near enough. They went down in 16.1 overs and the home side soon finished off the matfch with 3.2 overs to spare.