WEYMOUTH 279-8 (20pts) beat BROADSTONE 261 (12pts) by 18 runs

TEN-MAN Weymouth defied all the odds to pick up a superb victory at Broadstone on Satur-day in the Dorset Premier League.

Already consigned to the drop, the Seasiders could have easily capitulated at The Delph, part-icularly being a man light, but instead they displayed fantastic character to edge out their hosts in what was a fantastic game.

Batting first, Weymouth got off to a flier with Kieron Womble (41) and Dean Janaway (73) leading the charge before Will McKay (58) built on the foundations with a fine half century.

Those excellent contributions left Broadstone needing 280 for the win, which they never really looked like reaching despite falling just 18 runs short towards the end.

Excellent bowling was the main reason for that with Ben Lawes (5-62) leading an attack that kept up the pressure on the batsmen throughout the second innings.

Ben Lawes finished with a fifer in the end but this triumph was not about individuals, it was about a collective unit work- ing together to provide their club with a much-needed boost following a disappointing cam-paign.

Weymouth skipper Matt Lawes told Echosport: “It was a really good victory. We turned up with just 10 men after a few pulled out but thankfully we batted first with Kieron getting us off to a flier with 41 off 40-odd balls.

“Dean Janaway also batted brilliantly and knocked 73 before Will McKay did the same at the end to set a total of 279, which was an excellent effort.

“Their pitch is one of those which invites boundaries, and in order to do well there you have to be aggressive and go for it, and that is exactly what we did.

“Dan Hutchens and I then opened the bowling and picked up a couple of wickets before Dave Trotter (1-31 off 10 overs) and Ben Lawes came on and both did superbly.

“In the end Ben finished with a fifer and although they got quite close to their target towards the end I thought we thoroughly deserved the victory.

“Having already been relegated and only having 10 men, we could have easily gone there and been rolled over but instead the boys dug in and did really well.

“To go there and put in such a good performance was fantastic.”

Luke Carter (61) and James Brown (65) carried the fight for Broadstone before tailenders Christian Metcalfe (17), Simon Mitchell (15) and Greg Parsons (11 not out) all fought hard in the closing stages, but Weymouth somehow held their nerve, picking up the final wicket with the first ball of the 48th over.

The victory also means the Seasiders have avoided the wooden spoon and can go into their final game of the season at home to Wimborne & Colehill with high spirits.