POOLE Town secured their third Nationwide Sun Awnings Dorset League Premier Division championship in a row and they didn't bowl a ball in their last match with Broadstone, as it was too wet to play at Poole Park.

Poole needed to win the match if they were to win the title and, despite heavy localised overnight rain, they hoped to fulfil the fixture. However the umpires had other ideas and ruled that play would be unwise and so the match was abandoned.

That meant that Poole retained their average which was just enough to ensure that they stayed ahead of Weymouth.

After a slightly shaky start to the season, Poole have performed well, winning eight consecutive matches. This kept them in contention for the second half and, with the other challengers losing vital matches in the closing stages, Poole did just enough to be crowned champions again.

Their depth of batting combined with an excellent bowling attack, set up many convincing victories and they lost just two matches, one of those when the weather conditions turned against them during the contest.

Weymouth were certainly the favourites for much of the season but they lost three games and, their recent defeat at the hands of Broadstone, was the deciding factor. In their last match they trounced lowly Dorchester by 140 runs but, despite gaining maximum points, they could not catch Poole and had to settle for the runners-up spot.

Colehill, whose last game at Blandford was called off because their opponents' ground was unfit, finished third. At the beginning of the season their very strong side looked likely to be the leading title contenders but they lost their way towards the end of the season and dropped out of the race.

Parley rounded off their season with a 87-run victory over Wimborne at Dean Park. They lost two wickets for one run before Rajesh Niak (97) and Paul Yates (46) added 78. Two wickets went at 79 but then Kelvin Sutherland (21) and skipper Ian Bradley (21 no) supported Niak as they reached 215-7 with Chris Cornish taking 4-41.

Wimborne were soon in trouble against Yates (4-27) and they struggled to 76-7. With only Ben Ratcliffe (42) in form, they were bowled out for 128 off 34 overs.

Stalbridge managed to survive relegation and they finished with a 43-run victory over Compton House. They reached 182-9 and then dismissed the visitors for 139. Dorchester will be playing in Division One next season having finished at the foot of the table. In their last match they managed just 123 in reply to Weymouth's 263-4.

The Division One title has gone to Wayfarers who managed a three wicket victory over Bournemouth and OBs. They missed out on several bonus points and took just eighteen points from the match but, with Hamworthy Recreation and Swanage both losing, their average was 0.76 ahead of the second place team and they will be playing in the top flight next season after a 15-year absence.

The match at Chapel Gate was in serious doubt but superb efforts by the groundsman Peter Tapper and sportsmanship by the home team, especially their skipper Rob Coombes, made a 31-over match possible.

The home side were inserted and early wickets fell to Jon Day (4-23) and Bevan Hornby (3-59). Ben Lyndsey-Clarke (23) helped them recover from 49-5 to reach a more respectable 128-9 from the reduced overs.

Wayfarers lost both openers at nine but Mark Stacey (44) then edged them closer and although they slumped to 111-7 against Coombes (3-39), Peter Stacey (21 no) and Hornby (12 no) ensured their win with sixteen balls to spare.

Most of the Hamworthy Recreation batsmen got a start against Portland Red Triangle but were dismissed without making real progress. The main scorers in their 171-9 were Darren Pritchard (27), Stephen Sedgewick (24), Eddie Wilson (22) and Tim Wood (21).

After they had struggled to 52-5, Jason Styles (72 no) led the Portland recovery and he put on 66 for the sixth wicket with Michael Nott (21) that set up a three-wicket win with four balls to spare. John Larter (3-27) was the best of the Hamworthy bowlers.

Swanage had a disaster losing to Suttoners by 154 runs and their opponents' revival during the second half of the season enabled them to finish in the runners-up position.

An opening stand of 105 between Paul Harding (30) and Chris Insall (76) gave Suttoners an excellent basis that was extended by Martin Finch (33) and Neil Corbin (23) as they reached 218 before they were all out in the 45th over. Wicket takers were Guy Watson (4-61), Ryan Norman (3-22) and Craig Wells (3-58).

The Suttoners attack soon ripped into the Swanage batting line-up with Paul Barber (3-18) and Paul Harding (3-28) reducing them to 20-4. Only James Harris (27) showed any resistance and, with Chris Rawlings (4-10) taking out the tail, they were rolled over for 64 in the 25th over.

Shaftesbury's first impressions of Division One cricket were very favourable as the newly promoted side led the table. However, it was not long before they realised that they had to fight very hard if they were to avoid a quick return to Division 2.

They were not up to the task and finished at the foot of the table with their final 138-run defeat at the hands of Marnhull confirming that their side needs to improve. Chasing a target of 210-2, they were reduced to 72 all out and make the drop along with Bournemouth and OBs.

The two sides that have been promoted from Division Two are Weymouth 2nds, who were convincing champions, and Wiltshire team Fovant.