SKIPPER Simon Mitchem insists Dorchester are “aiming high” this season, as they embark on another summer in the Dorset Premier League.

Martinstown are the visitors to the Rec tomorrow (1pm) as the sides kick off their competitive campaigns with a derby tussle.

The county town captain is eager to get going in what he hopes will be a successful summer at the helm and is looking to improve

on last season’s sixth placed finish.

He told Echosport: “We are really looking forward to it. We had a really good pre-season.

“We finished sixth last year and we will be looking to build on that. I am as ambitious as they come and want to finish as high as possible.

“Where that will be, I don’t have the answer but we are certainly aiming high, that’s for sure.

“It will be nice to get straight back into the competitiveness of the league straight away, which is what you want. We are all looking forward to a good game, hopefully we can go out there and do a job.

“We want points on the board early, that’s a really important thing for us.”

New Dorchester recruits Jack Walklett, Josh Richardson and David Trotter are all set to be included in the season opener, Will McKay is unavailable through work commitments.

James Dunham is still set to be Mitchem’s vice-captain after playing cricket Down Under in a spell in Australia.

All-rounder Mitchem, who is going into his second summer as skipper of the first team, also admits he is still learning on the job but is growing in confidence in the role.

“There were times last year where I probably needed to back myself or other people a bit more,” he added.

“I will be more confident this year in having more faith in myself and the team as a whole.

“Last year there were a few times where our batting let us down so, hopefully, we can be more solid.

“With batting, it’s all about taking responsibility and standing up rather and palming it off to someone else. That’s a big thing that I am a believer in, rather than letting someone else do it.”

Giving his thoughts on the race for the league title, Mitchem added: “Sherborne will definitely be up there again, they were a very strong team last year. Poole will be there or thereabouts.”

Martinstown finished the campaign second from bottom ahead of relegated Weymouth last term.

Dorchester’s National Knockout Cup game against Fawley has now been rearranged for Monday (12.30pm).