DORCHESTER are looking for home advantage to count as they look to improve from their defeat to Walcot last weekend when they host Bradford on Avon in the Southern Counties South Division tomorrow (3pm).

They had been due to face Bradford in the Dorset & Wilts Senior Cup, but Bradford could not raise a side, gifting Dorchester a place in the semi-final.

Head coaches Eral Anderson and Martyn Peel are hoping for good game this weekend and to see some improvement from the defeat against Walcot, while looking for home advantage to help their side out.

With a settled squad now forming, players are competing to retain starting places, but injuries and work commitments will always take their toll.

Liam Kershaw is rested with bruised ribs so Matt Chalker makes his debut this season at hooker, and in the process hits 190 appearances for the team.

Tom Bamlet starts at prop again looking to make some blistering runs over the gain line.

Steve Tucker is moved from his usual back row position to second row, with club captain James Newsam at number eight.

The injured Alex Peel is replaced by George Foot at fly-half and Dave Gower continues his run at scrum-half.

Dorchester are currently ninth in the table, with one win and two losses so far this season.

However, they face a struggling Bradford side that currently sit at the foot of the table, with three losses and just one point so far this season.

Rob Parker takes the Dorchester A team on the road to Wimborne, guaranteed to be a tough encounter, with Paul Broadbent making his debut for the season.

Joe Underhill and Jake Bosher return from injury and Leo Ansell lining up in the centre, it is certain to be a competitive side.

The third team Gladiators will be looking to make the most of the home advantage also as they take on the Blandford Seconds, who racked up over 80 points in last weekend’s game.

Captain Tony O’Connell has gone with a mix of youth and experience and is keen to retain the side’s unbeaten status.

The highly experienced John Elliott returns for his first game of the season and Lee King, a first team regular for the past two seasons, also takes his place in the lineup.

Sunday as ever has the youth section in action with the under-14s entertaining Bridport in the morning whilst the girls’ group welcome Ellingham &

Ringwood to Coburg Road for their first competitive outing this season.

CONTACT US:

t: 01305 830990

e: sport

@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @Dorsetechosport