WEYMOUTH 156-7 (5pts) lost to DORCHESTER 159-6 (17pts) by 4 wickets

IT was Dorchester skipper Simon Mitchem who was in derby-day dreamland as his side recorded their first win of the season against rivals Weymouth.

The home side chased down the Seasiders’ total of 156 relatively comfortably at the Rec, scooping 17 league points in the process.

With their teams both searching for their first taste of victory in the Dorset Premier League going into the contest, both captains knew the importance of getting one over each other and in turn kick-starting their season.

The county town side won the toss and put Weymouth in on a pitch which was not particularly conducive for scoring.

And despite ticking along nicely at 74-1 halfway through their innings with opener Michael Irrgang 50 not out, the visitors failed to accelerate as Dorchester put the squeeze on.

Irrgang eventually fell when he was bowled by Mitchem, and from then on, despite contributions from Weymouth captain Kieron Womble (24) and Jim Ryall (21), the visitors’ total was limited to just 156 from their 50 overs, leaving Dorchester in a good position to claim the win.

Skipper Mitchem told Echosport: “I think both teams would have bowled first, so I had no hesitation when I won the toss.

“We bowled and fielded very well and we were really happy to keep them to 156, and the wicket got better as the sun got on it.”

Following the interval, Seasiders' seamer Alex Mortimore bowled with good pace and picked up 4-35 from his 10 overs.

But it was not enough as Dorchester captain Mitchem, batting at number five, guided his side home with an unbeaten 21, much to the delight of his team-mates watching on from the boundary edge.

“It was a very low scoring game but it was good for us to get a win on the board,” Mitchem added.

“We knew to chase 156 wasn’t going to be easy because the wicket wasn’t great, but we were very happy and we knew we just had to see it through.

“We had a stronger batting line-up this week so were confident we could get over the line.

“I was more focused on winning the game than the derby because sometimes people get carried away with it. I was just trying to keep a cool head even though I got a bit nervous at the end.

“It’s just good to get a win. I am more relieved to get a win because we had a tough start and hopefully now we can build on that.

“Everyone is starting to contribute which is great. We want to stay in the top flight so we need to accumulate some more wins now to do that, it’s just good to get going.”

The victory puts Dorchester 10 points above Weymouth in the Premier League standings, with the Seasiders now the only team in the division not to win a game.

Reflecting on his side’s third successive loss, returning skipper Womble added: “When we are struggling as much as we are you need to win the toss, but we keep losing them and it’s costing us.

“We didn’t get enough runs. Even though Michael Irrgang batted really well, I felt we got bogged down in patches and just couldn’t put on the runs.

“Crucially we didn’t get the early wickets with the ball.

“If we had done that we could have put some pressure on, but when they are 50-odd for none then all they have to do is pace themselves and they cruised home.

“I am still extremely proud of us. We went out there and made a good fist of it.

“David Trotter bowled well as always and Alex Mortimore rocked in with really good pace and got it up there.”

Commenting on where his side go from here, the Seasiders’ skipper claimed: “I would not say I am a natural captain but I am trying my best.

“I am getting lots of support around me which is superb but, at the end of the day, it is an individual sport as well as a team sport and we just need a few guys to put performances together and we will get the win. We will keep going.”

Next up for Weymouth this Saturday is a home fixture with second-placed Broadstone, while Dorchester travel to Sherborne, who have won two of their opening three games.

  • Elsewhere, Dorchester Seconds made it a double for the county town club as they triumphed over their Weymouth counterparts by 69 runs at Redlands.

After posting 163 with the bat, Dorchester bowled Weymouth out for 94 in their County Division Three contest.