Dorset League match previews – Week 17

Dan Belt’s men are eight points behind leaders Poole, with Wimborne in third just one point adrift of the county town side.

Realistically, Dorchester need to capitalise on any potential slip-up from Poole with 20 points against the Foxes of Cattistock & Symene.

However, with Belt unavailable, vice-captain Jon Legg takes the reins for the penultimate weekend.

READ MORE: Dorchester beat Sherborne by 40 runs 

Legg told Echosport: “I believe every game at this stage of the season is a must-win wherever you’re placed in the league.

“But obviously we need a win to keep the pressure on Poole.”

For Legg, the fixture comes against his former side, although the all-rounder denied the game therefore takes on added potency for him personally.

“I don’t think it makes it any more difficult,” he revealed.

“I know most of their team and they’ll want to put one over us. It’s up to us to keep performing as we have.”

Dan Hill makes his debut for Dorchester.

Dorchester: Legg, Ryall, Mitchem, Rajendar, Macklin, Nobbs, King, Baker, Alford, Barrett, Hill.

Their second team travel to County Division Two leaders Chalke Valley, while Dorchester Thirds host Bournemouth Fifths in County Division Six (both tomorrow 1.30pm).

Elsewhere in the Premier League, Puddletown must better Christchurch’s haul of points to survive until the final weekend.

Adam Barrett’s side host Bere Regis at Plush tomorrow (1pm) occupying bottom spot and are currently on course to be the only team relegated.

They trail Christchurch by 20 points with 40 to play for, while Cattistock & Symene lie three points further up the table.

Barrett said: “If we want any aspirations of staying in the Premier League it’s a game we have to win.

“(Bere) are a very good team and have had some impressive results recently as well.

“It’s going to be tough, we just need to play the best we can. If our best isn’t good enough then it isn’t good enough.

“An innings like Shrub (Ollie Shrubsole) played last week gave confidence to the team.

“We’re quite a close-knit bunch anyway and Shrub getting that hundred was a lift for everyone and more proof that we can compete.”

Meanwhile, fourth-placed Bere expect a more difficult challenge than the one posed by Puddletown in their eight-wicket win earlier in the season.

And captain Brian Keegan is acutely aware of Puddletown’s scrap for their Premier League lives.

He said: “They’re the most local team to us and we bet them convincingly. I’m not expecting it to be as easy as that (tomorrow).

“You look at the league table and you'd say it should be a comfortable win but we know things don’t always work that way.

“They put up a reasonably good performance against Poole last week when Ollie got a ton.

“They have got players that can do damage, so we’ll be giving them the utmost respect.”

Lucas Allen, Gordon Wint and Rob Snow return but Barrett (finger) is out for the rest of the season.

Bere make two changes as Lyndon White and Gordan Fraser miss out for Tim Goodhew and Pete Russell’s return.

Puddletown: Shrubsole, Re Norman, Mitchell, Ry Norman, Morris, Clarke, Wint, Allen, Snow, Fairman, Knight.

Bere: Rich Cole, Russell, Payne, Kennard, Robertson, S Goodhew, T Goodhew, Murphy, Munnings, Rogerson, Keegan.

Bere main sponsor: Booth Gadenne

Bere first & second XI match ball sponsor: Dorset Reclamation

Puddletown Seconds have a bye weekend but Bere Regis Seconds host Hamworthy Recreation Seconds in County Division Three tomorrow (1.30pm).

Having broken a sequence of six straight Premier League losses last time out, Martinstown host leaders Poole Town tomorrow (1pm).

Charlie Durant’s men finished third behind Poole last season but their 2022 campaign has not panned out the same way as they currently sit seventh.

And Durant is keen to have a say in the title race by demonstrating his side’s quality.

He said: “That would be lovely. We did Dorchester a favour in the same sort of situation last year and ended up beating Poole in August time.

“It would be nice but for us it’s about enjoying it and seeing how well we can finish the league.

“There has been a lot of pressure on us the last few weeks and people have been feeling that., we’ve snatched at a few opportunities in games.

“But with the pressure off we can just relax and play our best stuff.”

Martinstown drop Will Maltby and Dave Trotter but welcome back Nathan McNab and Matt Camp.

Martinstown: Nichols, S Williams, Lewis, T Pope, Kershaw, F Williams, Camp, Je Stewart, Durant, McNab, Coombs.

Ninth-placed Martinstown Seconds visit second-placed Broadstone Seconds in County Division Three as they battle to avoid the drop tomorrow (1.30pm).

In County Division One, Portland Red Triangle are targeting a fourth successive win when they host relegation-threatened Compton House tomorrow (1.30pm).

House occupy ninth and must better Wimborne & Colehill’s points haul by three points to take the fight into the final weekend.

However, Portland are keen to continue an upturn in form that has coincided with a return to their aggressive brand of cricket.

Skipper Matt Randell said: “Compton House will want to beat us no matter what position they are in the league.

“It’ll be a tough one and it was a hard one up at their place. They fought hard and made us work for the win.

“They had a few old lads back up at their place and it wouldn’t surprise me if they managed to recruit a few players for our clash.

“It’s again about not being complacent but I think we’ve got some good momentum after three wins in a row.

“We’ll just be looking to keep that up and go for a standard Portland win, look to bash it around and then restrict them with the ball.”

Portland swap all-rounders as Matt Barrett misses out for the remainder of the season, Simon Proffitt his replacement.

Portland: Laws, Proffitt, J Adkins, Randell, Griffin, D Adkins, Samuel, Russell, Edwards, Marsh, Potts.

In Division Two, Weymouth are looking to make it 2-1 in clashes with Corfe Mullen this season.

The Seasiders host Corfe at Redlands tomorrow (1.30pm) having lost by a whopping 171 runs in the reverse fixture before gaining revenge in the T20 Trophy final last month.

Weymouth skipper Harry Mitchell said: “There’s been some friendly banter between both sides, they’re a good bunch of lads.

“In a really competitive cup final we came out on top and in the league they smashed us.

“Same as last week, we just want to get through to the end of the season.

“It’s part of the project as well, with Redlands getting new facilities next year. It’s exciting times for the club.

“It’s about bringing on the younger guys, improving what we’ve got but then making a few additions going into next season.

“Neither team has anything to play for so we’re just looking forward to a good game.”

Weymouth: Beals, Webb, J Sapsworth, Womble, Taylor, Mitchell, Guyett, Whyte, Rogers, Urumancheri, Hoyes.

Weymouth Seconds visit Swanage Thirds tomorrow (1.30pm) needing 11 points to seal the County Division Six title.