DORCHESTER captain Martyn Richards is already looking to the future and has decided to give youth a chance in tomorrow’s home clash with Wayfarers (1.30pm).

The county town skipper has conceded defeat in the race to retain their Dorset Premier League crown, following last Saturday’s defeat to Broadstone, and is now keen to further develop the club’s current pool of talented youngsters.

Richards, who has handed call-ups to young guns Nick Roe, Hugh Pryce, Ian Legg and Rhys Cole, said: “We can’t win the league now so we’re going to take the opportunity to play some of the youngsters and give them more of a role than they have had so far.

“Hugh Pryce batted really well for the seconds last weekend while Nick Roe is a tremendous young wicket-keeper and batsman and we’re looking forward to seeing him, and the others, in action.

“Tomorrow will give us the chance to see what the younger lads are about and for them to get a taste of things to come.

“And if they do well it will only boost their confidence even further.”

Paul Tweddle and Lee Haynes are both unavai-lable tomorrow while Steve Gerety, Dave Herbert and Phil Morley drop to the seconds.

Of tomorrow’s opponents, Richards added: “Wayfarers are a good batting side who have caused a few upsets this season. We enjoyed a good game against them earlier in the season and hopefully tomorrow’s match will be the same.”

Dorchester: Richards, Waite, Maslen, Belt, Pryce, Legg, Roe, Dunham, Ellis, Cole, A N Other.

* Victory for Dorchester Seconds at Ferndown tomorrow (1.30pm) could see them climb out of the Dorset League Division One drop-zone.

The second string lie just 0.15 behind third-bottom Broadstone Seconds in the averages and have been bolstered by the addition of three first-team players for tomorrow’s trip – Steve Gerety, Dave Herbert and Phil Morley.

Meanwhile, The county town thirds host Gillingham, needing just eight points to confirm their promotion to Division Six (2pm).

* Dorchester CC’s annual Cricket Festival begins on Monday with a host of fixtures pencilled in for the five-day extravaganza.

Junior games will take place on both Monday and Friday with a senior XI in action on Tuesday (against Robincroft, Derbyshire), Wednesday (against Tony Foot’s chairman’s XI) and Thursday (against a Dorset Police XI).

First-team captain Martyn Richards said: “I invite anyone to come down and enjoy the days.”