OUTGOING chairman, Mike Richardson accepted the prestigious Mainstop Meritorious Effort Trophy as players of the Weymouth and District League met for the end of season AGM/presentation evening at the Reynold's Institute.

The ever-popular stalwart, a former All Saints School teacher, stressed he had no intention of hanging up his bat just yet even though while secretary Paul Carter announced that the committee were in the process of co-opting a new chairman for next season.

Carter is hoping that favourable club entries will enable the league to return to a three-tier format next term and it is very possible that a new club, Winterbourne Kingston, could be taking up a place in one division as the old nine-mile radius rule was finally scrapped.

County youth set-up coach Pete Diffey was commended on his continued successes in developing the sport in South Dorset - his latest project, a regular club at Wey Valley School, could yield the first ever team from the Broadwey school next season.

Meanwhile the St Osmund's youngsters showed terrific progress again over the last year with a number moving up into first division sides where they performed admirably.

A major rule change gained full support and will mean teams that concede a match will be fined and deducted ten points while the opponents will be awarded 20 when the league restarts in October.

On a sad note president Brian Copp reminded members of the passing of legendary county player Bill Pryor.

FINAL TABLES

WEYMOUTH & DISTRICT LEAGUE Division One

P W D L F A Pts

Shipton Gorge A 22 20 1 1 562 197 582

Budmouth A 22 19 0 3 526 264 545

YMCA A 22 15 1 6 487 331 502

Red Triangle A 21 15 1 5 458 294 473

P&S Harriers 21 13 3 5 454 308 467

All Saints A 21 13 1 7 431 320 444

Springfield A 22 9 0 13 388 420 397

Colliton A 22 4 1 17 354 453 358

P&S Hurricanes 21 6 1 14 282 453 288

Crossways 22 6 1 15 281 518 287

Civil Service A 22 2 3 17 267 527 269

Pilgrims 22 1 1 20 171 576 172

Division One leading player averages: S Joslin (100 per cent), A Ranftler (92), D Butcher (88), I Tervel (87), G Roberts (85), A Mitchell (83).

Division Two:

P W D L F A Pts

Springfield B 22 20 0 2 528 252 548

Budmouth B 22 15 0 7 504 304 519

St Osmund's Falcons 20 17 0 3 501 199 518

Springfield C 22 15 0 7 499 323 514

Civil Service B 22 15 0 7 478 342 493

St Osmund's Sureshots 21 11 0 10 421 359 432

Colliton B 22 12 0 10 409 404 421

Shipton Gorge B 20 11 0 9 381 377 392

Colliton C 22 5 0 17 275 503 280

St Osmund's Hawks 20 2 0 18 230 510 232

Budmouth C 22 3 0 19 225 564 228

Civil Service C 21 2 0 19 218 532 220

Division Two leading player averages: J Haddin (100 per cent), R Prince (98), P Ennals (96), C Whitefield (94), D Moth (91), P Holdcroft (88).