DORCHESTER’S Jon Legg will lead out his side in their Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League clash against former club Cattistock & Symene at Dorchester Rec tomorrow (1pm).
Legg switched from the Foxes to Dorchy in 2021 and stepped up to take the county town’s captaincy this season after Dan Belt stood down in 2022.
But Legg downplayed the occasion, stressing that the Foxes are a much-changed team since his departure.
He told Echosport: “At the end of the day, it’s me leading the boys out against another opponent.
READ MORE: Broadstone lose by 39 runs to Dorchester
“A lot of the players I played with have moved on or stopped playing, it’s quite a different side.
“Regardless that it’s my old club we need to go out and perform to the best of our abilities and bring home the points.”
Dorchester are unchanged from their 39-run win over Broadstone.
County Division Three leaders Dorchester Seconds visit Shillingstone, while Dorchester Thirds have a bye weekend and next host Shaftesbury Seconds on Saturday, June 17.
Dorchester: Legg, Narasimhan, Barrett, Mitchem, Rajendar, Belt, Jones, Ryall, Dunham, Nobbs, Subramanian.
Bere Regis, meanwhile, are looking to bounce back from their shock 30-run loss at Sherborne last weekend when they host Blandford tomorrow (1pm).
Brian Keegan’s men were heavy favourites going into the game after a hat-trick of wins, but Bere’s skipper feels the outcome is a reality check after results flattered performances.
He said: “After last week’s result we need to reset. We’ve got to improve all facets of our play and try and get back on winning ways.
“Even though we’d won the three games, I kept going on about the performance. I still felt there was a lot of improvement that could be taken out of the games.
“Again, we have to lift our level and hopefully that gets us the result. There’s a lot more in the tank.”
Bere make three changes to their side as Jacob Kennard (back), Tom Munnings and Tom Swain miss out for Rob Murphy, Pete Russell and Theo Talbot.
Bere Regis Seconds visit Abbotsbury in Division Three tomorrow.
Bere: Rich Cole, Russell, S Goodhew, Talbot, Robertson, Murphy, J Keegan, Rogerson, Payne, B Keegan, Walbridge.
Bere first XI match ball sponsor: Bere Regis Dental Practice.
Bere second XI match ball sponsor: Dorset Property Surveys.
Premier counterparts Martinstown remain bottom of the league and winless after six rounds and take on Sherborne at home tomorrow.
Town skipper Charlie Durant insists belief within his squad is high.
“It’s a weird one, I don’t think the belief’s gone from anyone at any point,” he said.
“We go into every game feeling we can win and we don’t feel like the league position reflects the talent we have in the team.
“Obviously, talent doesn’t equal wins. You’ve got to apply yourselves in the right way. With the bat we’ve got to grind it out.
“You can be the best player in the world but if you slap one to cover and get out, it doesn’t make any difference. You’re not going to influence the game.
“People need to spend time at the crease and just accumulate. It’s about getting runs.”
Ryan Blair, Ry Gerety and John Stewart miss out for Ed Nichols, Dave Trotter and Will Maltby.
Martinstown Seconds visit Wimborne Thirds in Division Four tomorrow.
Martinstown: S Gerety, Nichols, S Williams, Maltby, Lewis, F Williams, Kane, Hill, Coombs, Durant, Trotter.
In County Division One, Portland Red Triangle welcome Beaminster to Reforne in what promises to be an attacking affair.
Beaminster disposed of an ultra-aggressive Hamworthy side last week, while Triangle came unstuck at last year’s runners-up Witchampton.
And Portland skipper Matt Randell says there will not be a change in approach from his side.
He said: “They’ll be a good side, I know Ross (Baker) and a couple of their other lads have started playing Evening League for (St George’s) now.
“We played against them a couple of years ago and they’re always decent.
“We’ll looking to set the home games as ones we back ourselves to win. We’re not going to change how we play, we’ll be looking to go pretty hard at them throughout.”
Simon Proffitt, Tony Quayle and Rich Samuel miss out, but Joe Adkins, Callum Doherty and Khylo Farley come in.
Portland’s second string visit Cattistock & Symene Thirds in Division Five tomorrow.
Triangle: Laws, M Barrett, D Adkins, Randell, Russell, Doherty, Farley, Moles, J Marsh, Potts, J Adkins.
Puddletown, meanwhile, have 20 players missing for their trip to Wimborne Seconds.
At the time of writing, Puddle only had nine players in the first team as skipper Ryan Norman faces a major selection headache.
He said: “They look a decent side with a good few younger players which is good for them as a club.
“It will be tough but it’s the same as every other week, we’ll approach is the same way and see how we go.”
Puddletown Seconds host Wareham in Division Five tomorrow.
Puddletown: Ry Norman, Re Norman, Weir, Eccleson, Knight, S Chaldecott, Ayres-Turner, Snow, Clarke, AN Other, AN Other.
Looking for a fourth straight win, Weymouth face their biggest test of the season against second-placed Charlton Down at Redlands tomorrow.
The third-placed Seasiders have taken 60 points from victories over Marnhull, Parley Seconds and Compton House.
Vice-captain Tom England believes Weymouth have a “great chance” to win on current form.
He said: “With both teams toward the top of the table, Saturday’s game is big.
“Charlton Down have started impressively and will provide a stern test. It’s one I’m looking forward to.
“We come into the game on the bounce of three wins and the confidence in the group is high. If we do the basics right we will have a great chance.”
Weymouth are without captain Lloyd Beals, Adam Hoyes, Neil Walton and Ben Lawes but England has drafted in experienced pacers Michael Pearce and Sami Rathnayake plus off-spinner Cube Whyte.
Weymouth: England, Tarry, J Sapsworth, Wills, Mitchell, Guyett, Urumancheri, Whyte, Pearce, Rathnayake, AN Other.
Matchday sponsor: Active Mobility
Player sponsor: Advoco Accountants
Ground renovation sponsor: GRBS
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here