WEYMOUTH 69 (0pts) lost to SHERBORNE 73-1 (20pts) by nine wickets

A DISASTROUS batting display saw Weymouth succumb to a heavy defeat in their season opener at Sherborne.

On a murky day not really meant for cricket, the Seasiders were left with nothing to show for their efforts in their first competitive contest of the summer, drawing a blank in both batting and bowling points.

Put in by the hosts, Weymouth got off to a dreadful start when Michael Irrgang was trapped lbw from the opening ball of the game.

Batting at five, skipper Kieron Womble offered some resistance as wickets continued to tumble.

He was the only man to reach double figures with a spirited 35 from Weymouth’s meagre total of 69 all out from 33.4 overs.

In reply, hosts Sherborne reached their total with relative ease despite Weymouth spinner Luke Lovett claiming a solitary scalp for the away side.

Reflecting on a tough day for his troops, Womble told Echosport: “I lost the toss which was a bit of a disaster and we lost Michael Irrgang to the first ball of the game, from there on, it sort of summed up our day.

“I would have bowled first as well, it was a really bad toss to lose.”

Asked whether he could have even foreseen such a heavy defeat, he added: “I didn’t even contemplate it to be honest.

“A couple of days before you wonder whether it’s going to be on because the weather isn’t too great, we lost the toss, lost one of our best batsmen, and it just unravelled from there really.

“Weather wise Wednesday and Thursday looked really doubtful, and by the time you get to Saturday morning you think ‘oh right, this game is actually going to be on and we will get a good chunk of it’.

“But it’s no excuse really, we played really badly.

“Not much was said at all and it was a very quiet changing room (between innings). Anyone who plays cricket knows when you are in that position it is hard to get any spirits up whatsoever.”

With Womble away next weekend, the Seasiders have the daunting task of hosting reigning champions Poole Town on Saturday.

It was a much different story at Redlands as Weymouth Seconds kicked off their season with maximum points against Wimborne & Colehill Thirds.

The hosts got to 227-3 and declared before the rain hit, and the decision proved fruitful as they skittled the away side out for just 70 in reply.