Dorchester not out for Poole payback – Dorset League match previews

Poole beat Dorchester by 43 runs in the postponed Dorset T20 Cup final in late April and the two sides meet again – weather permitting – this weekend.

Dorchester already hold a nine-point advantage over a team many onlookers believe to be their closest rivals for the title this season.

The reigning champions beat Wimborne by eight wickets on Saturday, while Poole’s game with Cattistock was abandoned due to rain.

Speaking to Echosport, Roe said: “For us, if you look back over the last few years us and Poole have been two of the stronger sides.

“There’s obviously been some outliers each year but we’re about honours even.

“We always got the better of them at home and they’ve beaten us at their place. The T20 comes into that as well.

“I don’t think it’s a revenge thing. We’re just going to have to play good cricket.

“We’ve got results against them enough to know that if we play good cricket we’ll come out on top.”

Dorchester are unchanged from the side that beat Wimborne.

Dorchester: Ryall, Owens, Carty, Anderson, Mitchem, Legg, Belt, J Caldwell, Barrett, Richardson, Roe.

Meanwhile, early table toppers Martinstown will look to continue their impressive form at home to Broadstone.

Martinstown skipper Sam Kershaw Picture: GRAHAM HUNT

Town skipper Sam Kershaw is looking to make a statement of intent on their home Lower Ashton Farm ground (1pm).

He said: “We didn’t play them last year with the split league, but they’re pretty consistent in their team selection.

“I’m confident we can perform to the best of our ability, come away with a win and try and make our home ground into a fortress this year.

“That will be key to us pushing up this season and going forwards, is making our home ground our own.

“You look at team like Dorchester the last couple of years. They’ve performed really well at home.

“Our ground suits the way we play and we need to box clever.”

Martinstown are without big-hitting duo Tom Pope and Teddy Andrews, so Ben Wylie and Ryan Blair come in.

Martinstown: Kershaw, Gerety, W Maltby, S Williams, Wylie, Hill, Ja Stewart, Blair, Jo Stewart, Trotter, Durant.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, Bere Regis visit Sherborne (1pm) for a meeting with former Surrey Seconds and Somerset Seconds batsman Josh Lawrence.

Bere skipper Brian Keegan said: “He hit 131 last Saturday so if we can get him out, it will go a long way to us being competitive.

“I’m not saying we’re going to win because they’ve got Emlyn Kuhn and a strong batting line-up and Josh is at the top of that.

“You don’t get to where he got – and scoring tons at that level – without being a decent player, to say the least.

“It’s a challenge but we go there with our eyes wide open.

“Looking at the side we can put out, we’ve got 11 decent cricketers, all of which can be match-winners.

“But it’s consistency and you’ve got to turn up to the party.”

Bere are unchanged from last weekend's 90-run loss to Martinstown.

Bere: M King, Rich Cole, Robertson, Murphy, T Goodhew, Proffitt, S Goodhew, Griffiths, Payne, Keegan, Walbridge.

In County Division One, Weymouth host a red-hot Puddletown side coming off the back of multiple promotions in recent seasons.

Weymouth currently lead the standings after a nine-run win over Portland on the opening day.

Ahead of the clash at Redlands tomorrow (1.30pm), vice-captain Lloyd Beals said: “They’re a bit of an unknown quantity because they’ve flown up through the leagues.

“The game Saturday was one of my favourite games, it was hostile from the start and nothing went overboard. It was exciting to be a part of, edge of your seat stuff in both innings.

“Realistically you’ve got to be winning your home games for us to finish anywhere near where we want to.

“Beating Portland doesn’t mean anything if you don’t follow it up with a good performance.”

Weymouth will make a late call on team selection.

Weymouth match ball sponsor: Advoco Accountants

Weymouth all-rounder Lloyd Beals Picture: GRAHAM HUNT

Puddletown pulled off a notable four-wicket win over Compton House on Saturday and captain Adam Barrett is relishing the challenge posed by the Seasiders.

He said: “We had a tough fixture last weekend but I actually believe playing away against Weymouth will be even tougher this week.

“They had an excellent result against Portland playing away from home last weekend, so I am sure confidence for them will be sky high as a result.

“They are a strong team with lot of quality with both the bat and ball, so we are under no illusions how difficult a fixture this will be for us”

With regards to team news, Puddletown make one change from the side that beat Compton House last weekend, with Mikey Crabb replacing the unavailable Matt Porter.

“I think Matt will be unavailable for a few weeks now due to his teaching commitments, so that presents a real opportunity for someone like Crabby from the second team to step up and make a real claim for a regular spot.

“Apart from that one change, we will be exactly the same as last weekend and will be hoping to produce another good performance.”

Puddletown: Crabb, Weir, J Mitchell, Barrett, Eastment, Ry Norman, Snow, Re Norman, D Morris, J Morris, S Chaldecott.

Puddletown match ball sponsor: Rebuild Cost Assessment Ltd

Portland Red Triangle will be looking to bounce back from their derby defeat to Weymouth with a trip to Swanage tomorrow (1.30pm).

Triangle skipper Matt Randell said: “Playing Swanage at Swanage is always a tough game.

“I don’t think we’re going to think too much about them, we’re going to focus on our cricket.

“It’s a hard place for us to go and we’ve not won too many games there.

“If we can do our basics right, we can give ourselves a good opportunity of going for the win.”

Portland (from): Leake, Whisker, Price, Randell, Theakstone, Laws, D Adkins, J Adkins, Dalkins, Cameron, M Barrett, Samuel.

In Division Two, Dorchester Seconds visit Wimborne & Colehill Seconds.

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