Dorset League match previews - Week 16

Sherborne are quietly going well in fifth place but Dorchester are frying bigger fish at the top.

Belt’s men are just seven points adrift of leaders Poole, with Wimborne & Colehill a further two points back in third place.

Speaking to Echosport, Belt said: “This will be a massive test for the boys. Sherborne have got some very good players.

“We’ve got to be fully aware of what they’re capable of and perform at 110 per cent to try and get the win and as many points we can.

READ MORE: Dorchester beat Christchurch by eight wickets

“It’s one of those grounds with home advantage, if you know how to play the wicket.

“I’ve been there enough times and we know about the pitch and how it can play.”

And the mood is high within Dorchester’s squad, Belt adding: “It’s right up there. Similar to last year we were behind Poole going into the last game or two.

“We’re saying to ourselves that the pressure’s on them to keep getting 20 points and not drop points to give us a chance of catching them.”

James Dunham, Jon Legg and Seb Carty (all unavailable) miss out but Eral Anderson and Jack Owens return, with a late call being made on the 11th player.

Dorchester: Ryall, Mitchem, Rajendar, Anderson, Peak, Owens, Belt, Barrett, Baker, Nobbs, AN Other.

Dorchester Seconds host Corfe Mullen in County Division Two, while Dorchester Thirds host Cattistock & Symene Thirds in Division Six (both 1.30pm tomorrow).

Elsewhere, Martinstown are aiming to avoid extending their Premier League losing streak to seven games.

Charlie Durant’s side, who are only 29 points above the drop zone, visit a resurgent Cattistock & Symene side who could all but seal safety with a victory.

Durant said: “I never thought I’d be saying this but we’re probably underdogs going into the game.

“If you look at the form, we haven’t won in six and they should’ve beaten us last time – we got very lucky.

“If we play our best, we should win. We’ve got the quality but cricket’s a lot about mentality as well as ability, and they’ve got the confidence.”

Martinstown: Nichols, S Williams, Lewis, W Maltby, T Pope, Kershaw, F Williams, Je Stewart, Durant, Coombs, Trotter.

Martinstown Seconds are in their own relegation scrap in Division Three, 15 points behind Kingston Lacy in the final safe position. Town host leaders Cerne Valley tomorrow (1.30pm).

Looking to close the gap to both sides is Puddletown, who are 21 points adrift of Cattistock & Symene and require a favour from Martinstown.

However, Adam Barrett’s men are tasked with a hugely difficult assignment at table toppers Poole tomorrow (1pm).

Barrett said: “It’s a tough place to go. I don’t think anyone’s gone up there and won this season.

“For a team that’s bottom of the league to go and do that would be an unbelievable effort.

“We’ve got a few players missing but we’re going to go up there, try our best, fight for the badge, pick up as many points as we can and see what happens.

“We’ve not been able to put out consistent teams, which is exactly what you need to do in the Premier League, so we’ll regroup and go again next season.”

Puddletown are without Callum Chaldecott, Rob Snow, Gordon Wint, Adam Weir and Lucas Allen.

Puddletown: Shrubsole, Re Norman, Mitchell, Barrett, Ry Norman, D Morris, J Morris, S Chaldecott, Clarke, King, Edwards.

Puddletown Seconds visit Blandford Seconds in Division Five tomorrow (1.30pm).

Also in the Premier League, Bere Regis are fighting to earn the title of ‘best of the rest’ behind the top three.

Brian Keegan’s charges visit Broadstone with a possible milestone of a tenth win of the season on the cards tomorrow (1pm).

“We’ve got three games left and we want to finish well if we can,” Keegan said.

“When we played Broadstone the first time we made it hard work and won by 22 runs in the end, it should’ve been more comfortable had we hit our standards that day.

“We’ve got to do the basics, do them well, and if we keep doing that and not look too much at the opposition it should be enough to get us over the line.”

Tim Goodhew and Pete Russell are replaced by Lyndon White and Jacob Kennard.

Bere: M King, Robertson, S Goodhew, Murphy, Payne, Kennard, Rich Cole, Munnings, Rogerson, White, Keegan.

Bere main sponsor: Booth Gadenne

Bere first & second XI match ball sponsor: Dorset Reclamation

Bere Regis Seconds host Broadstone Seconds in Division Three tomorrow (1.30pm).

Having beaten two title-chasing sides in their past two Division One games, Portland Red Triangle face a different challenge at Marnhull tomorrow (1.30pm).

The islanders come up against the league’s ninth-placed side, who will go down if they cannot bridge the 19-point gap to Swanage in eighth during their three remaining games.

Triangle captain Matt Randell said: “Marnhull are a team to never underestimate, no matter how well or poorly they’re doing.

“We always find them a tough team to beat, especially at Marnhull. I know we’ve not got a great record at Marnhull.

“It only takes a couple of their more experienced players to have a good game.

“We’re probably going to treat it like we’ve treated the games the last two weeks and look at it from that point of view as opposed to thinking they’re lower down the table.”

Portland have one change with Simon Proffitt replaced by Matt Barrett in a like-for-like alteration, with Dave Adkins also competing for a place.

Portland (from): Laws, D Adkins, J Adkins, Randell, M Barrett, Sawyer, Russell, Cameron, Edwards, J Marsh, Potts, Griffin.

In Division Two, Weymouth face the unusual situation of playing Shaftesbury at Shroton tomorrow (1.30pm).

Shroton pulled out of the Dorset Premier League on the eve of the 2021 campaign and have not returned.

Their exit has given a lifeline to Weymouth’s game with Shaftesbury, whose home pitch has in midweek been deemed too dangerous due to surface cracks caused by the recent hot weather.

Seasiders’ skipper Harry Mitchell is pleased with the change.

He said: “When you go to a ground knowing the dimensions, potentially that could play in our favour. They’ll be playing away as well.

“I think it will be a good contest going into the game without them having a home advantage.”

Sixth-placed Weymouth, who cannot now earn promotion or suffer relegation, will field several second-team players in a bid to keep them in tune for their Division Six title push – offsetting a bye weekend.

Mitchell said: “Obviously with the bye week it’s given the seconds the opportunity to carry on against a higher level of opposition than they would normally play.

“I’m not too bothered about the points tally. It’s about building for the future, giving people experience and keeping the second team in form.

“We’ve got a different goal for the rest of the season than we have done.”

Weymouth: Mitchell, P Sapsworth, Reed, Taylor, Urumancheri, Tonkin, J Sapsworth, Jarvis, Guyett, Jose, Quayle.