POOLE TOWN 172-9 (18pts) beat BERE REGIS 84 (9pts) by 88 runs

BERE Regis fell to only their second defeat of the Dorset Premier League season as Poole Town claimed an 88-run victory at Poole Park.

Bere’s batting, their strength in the past two victories, this time let them down as numerous batters did not apply themselves.

Poole’s victory and Dorchester’s win at Christchurch also plunged Bere down from second to fourth, where they now trail leaders Wimborne by 21 points.

Bere skipper Brian Keegan won the toss and elected to field first, only for Poole to pile on 84 for the first wicket.

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George Moses (41) and Jamie Bennett (33) proved an immovable force until Sam Goodhew (2-45) snuck one through the former’s defences.

His wicket began a Bere fightback led by the visitors’ spinners, with Dean Rogerson (3-25) making short work of the middle order and Dave Griffiths (1-22) bowling tidily.

Cam Robertson (1-7) also played his part but number ten batter Joey Wormington smashed a six and a four to boost Poole on to 172-9.

Poole’s total appeared a tricky one on paper but several of Bere’s batters did not help themselves.

Poole’s slow bowlers are past masters of defending low totals on their home patch and so it proved again.

Robertson was the only Bere player to breach 20 runs but he became the second of two victims for Dan Jackson (2-25).

Bere had been 51-2 but Scott Bellamy (5-22) demolished the middle and lower order to reduce Bere to 55-8.

Rich Cole showed defiance with an unbeaten 10 from 37 balls but his contribution came as wickets continued to tumble, Wormington (1-1) and Bellamy completing a resounding win, the latter sealing his fifer in the process.

Keegan told Echosport: “Poole batted well but I’d say 170 was a par score on that wicket.

“They got a good start but we pulled it back, got wickets and Dean bowled well, got into a good rhythm.

“That should’ve put us in a good position to go and win the game but as a batting unit we just didn’t apply ourselves.

“A few people got themselves out and that just made life more difficult. As soon as you give them the ascendancy, their foot on your throat, they don’t let up.

“It was a bad day at the office with the bat. From our perspective, we’ll go again next week and hopefully improve. Up to recently, it’s been our strength.”

Elsewhere, Bere Regis Seconds beat Kingston Lacy by four runs in County Division Three thriller.

Bere’s first team host Broadstone on Saturday (1pm), with the seconds visiting Broadstone Seconds (1.30pm).

Bere main sponsor: Booth Gadenne

Bere first XI match ball sponsor: Graeme Price

Bere second XI match ball sponsor: Margaret Keegan