COMPTON HOUSE 212 (8pts) lost to WEYMOUTH 249-6 (20pts) by 37 runs

WEYMOUTH made it a hat-trick of County Division Two wins as the Seasiders held their nerve to beat Compton House by 37 runs.

After Weymouth scored 287 and 289 in their previous two games batting first against Marnhull and Parley Seconds, skipper Lloyd Beals had no hesitation in asking House to field after winning the toss.

Although Beals (4) chipped Jomon John (3-42) to mid-wicket in the first over, Weymouth rebuilt with a 102-run stand between man-of-the-match Tom England and Neil Walton.

The duo saw off the opening bowlers and found the boundary regularly, while receiving a healthy portion of luck as Walton was dropped three times and England once.

READ MORE: Weymouth beat Parley Seconds by 201 runs

Walton (54) was first to reach his half-century but then cut leg-spinner Piers Griffiths-Jones (1-14) to point.

That brought the returning Ben Lawes to the crease and he continued the scoring with England, who departed for a well-made 76 containing 13 boundaries.

Weymouth had laid the foundation for a late assault at 167-3 and Lawes (61no) provided the anchor, striking ten boundaries and a six in 49 balls.

He helped Weymouth to 249-6 as the middle order all scored above one-per-ball, despite John returning to dismiss Connor Wills (13) and Jack Sapsworth (9).

Weymouth started well with the leather as Beals (2-27) and Hoyes (2-25) removed Alfie Reynolds and the big-hitting Chris Haynes (both 1) early on.

But the experience of Mike Harper and Giles Reynolds put House above the asking rate as the duo feasted on any delivery short or wide.

Harry Mitchell (4-45) provided the critical breakthrough as he pinned Reynolds (78) leg before, then clean bowled Max Dangerfield (2) in the same over.

Alex Hayes (1) edged Mitchell to gully and the off-spinner bowled Hugh Tatnam (16) as House fell to 169-6.

Yet while Harper (57) remained the hosts still had a chance but he was magnificently stumped by the quick reflexes of England off Walton (1-46) as Weymouth struck a major blow.

Hoyes, Lawes (1-22) and Beals then came back to run through the tail as Weymouth scored their fifth successive maximum-point win under Beals’ captaincy.

Speaking to Echosport, Beals said: “It was tough, a good battle.

“I don’t think for a minute the game was getting away from us but we needed somebody to change the game and hats off to Harry, he did.

“It was a great spell and it certainly made finishing it off a bit easier.”

Weymouth’s fielding also proved crucial, dropping just one catch to House’s seven.

Beals added: “It’s the old cliché about catches and there was a few important stops on the boundary, it turned a four into one.

“Whereas, we were turning it into twos and threes. We’ve just got to keep winning, that’s all I care about.”

Weymouth Seconds thumped Cattistock & Symene Thirds by 180 runs in County Division Five.

Dorset Trade Skills man of the match: Tom England.