Dorchester have experienced mixed emotions ahead of tomorrow’s derby with Sherborne at Coburg Road (3pm).

The county town side have been boosted by the return from injury of skipper Dave Gower (broken thumb), but rocked by the news that vice-captain Steve Hodgson will be out for a month after breaking his arm in last Saturday’s 25-17 Southern Counties win at Ivel Barbarians.

Head coach Mike Sprules said: “Steve broke his arm last week and he’ll be out for four weeks, which is a real shame because he’s an inspirational player.

“Dave though has had his plaster off and he’s got full mobility so he’ll start on the bench. He’s desperate to get going but we want to do things the right way.”

Dylan Williams and Tim Cuzens are available once again while Rich Borries or Todd Richards will replace the injured Hodgson.

Sprules was disappointed by his side’s display in the victory over struggling Ivel and has urged his men to up their game ahead of the clash with rivals Sherborne.

He added: “Sherborne have managed to recruit well over the summer and they had a good win over Frome last weekend. We didn’t play well at all against Ivel but we got away with it and hopefully the players will now know that they can’t make the same mistake twice.”

Weymouth hope to make an immediate return to winning ways when they entertain Oakmeadians Seconds in Dorset & Wilts One South (3pm).

The Seasiders’ 100 per cent start to the season was ended by North Dorset Seconds last weekend and tomorrow they take on a side buoyed by an 86-0 drubbing of Westbury.

Captain Mark Sample is expecting a tough test at Wey Valley School. He said: “It’s going to be another very hard game for us. They’ve got a strong first team that is doing well this season so I imagine they’re going to have a strong second team as well.”

Puddletown welcome Bridport to Greenfields in the same division (3pm).

The Villagers are without Barry Dovell who broke his wrist at Swanage & Wareham last weekend, but welcome back James Perrett and Tim Yeatman to an otherwise unchanged squad.

Coaching co-ordinator Toby Musgrove said: “Nobody in our league seems to have found any consistency yet, and with only two points covering the whole table this fixture has all the makings of a close game. We'll be doing our best to come out on top.”

Swanage & Wareham travel to Wallingford, who lie just one point above the Swans in South West One East.

*The annual Piddle Dash takes place at Puddletown Rugby Club on Sunday (11am).

The 6km run or walk is for men and boys only, and once again is in aid of Prostate Research with the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust also benefiting.

Registration opens at 10am. Go to puddletownrfc.org.uk for more information.

TOMORROW’S FIXTURES South West One East: Wallingford v Swanage & Wareham.

Southern Counties South: Dorchester v Sherborne, Wimborne v North Dorset.

Dorset & Wilts One South: Blandford v North Dorset II; Swanage & W II v Frome II; Westbury v Wimborne II; Weymouth v Oakmeadians II.

Dorset & Wilts Two South: Ellingham & Ringwood II v South Wilts; North Dorset III v Lytchett Minster II; Swanage & W III v Dorchester II; Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew v Bournemouth III.

Dorset & Wilts Three South: Bournemouth IV v East Dorset; North Dorset IV v Swan & Ware IV; Oakmeadians III v Weymouth II; Wimborne III v Puddletown II; Wincanton v Blandford II.