It's down to the wire

WEYMOUTH 178-4 (25pts) by six wickets

WHAT a different a week makes in the world of Dorset cricket.

Seven days earlier, Weymouth's beleaguered players were inconsolable after seeing their Premier Division championship hopes destroyed by a five-wicket defeat at Colehill.

But it was all smiles again at Redlands on Saturday following the second place Seasiders' easy six-wicket success over Parley.

And as captain Hugh Lawes and his men celebrated their convincing return to form, news filtered through that leaders Poole Town had suffered a shock home defeat at the hands of Wimborne.

The up-shot of those results means the title race goes down to the wire with both sides needing final day wins next weekend to keep their hopes of glory alive.

And while Poole, who wrap up their campaign at Colehill, remain favourites to retain the trophy, the Weymouth skipper is just happy to be in there with a fighting chance.

He said: "Two years ago we draw up a five-year plan for the club after which we will look at our options to see if the time's right for us to play at a higher level.

"One of the main criteria was that over the next five years the first team needed to be up there challenging for the Premier Division title each season and so I'm delighted that for the second summer running, we are.

"Last year we went into the final game with a chance of winning the title and that's going to happen again next Saturday. I know the smart money will be on Poole because it's in their hands but who knows what might happen.

"We need to beat Stalbridge which won't be easy although the form book is definitely on our side. But I'd rather been playing them than having to go to Colehill who proved how good they are against us last week."

On paper, this should have been one of Weymouth's toughest games of the summer against a Parley outfit boasting the exception all-round talents of West Indian Carl Brissett.

But in keeping with the fact that it was carnival week in the resort, the Seasiders won at a procession.

Having lost the toss they struck a vital early blow after being sent into the field with the awesome Brissett (18) spooning a David Trotter delivery to Michael Pearce at mid-off with the total on 25.

Trotter bowled one of the best spells of his career, conceding just 10 runs from as many overs, and he also bagged the other big wicket of Parley skipper Gavin Oldbury, courtesy of a sharp catch by Hugh Lawes.

From 59-3, the visitors rallied to 131-4 thanks largely to the efforts of Keith Clarke who hit a patient 40. But once he became the first of Michael Pearce's three victims, it was all downhill from there.

Chris Knight (3-19) had an outstanding afternoon with the ball and there was good support from Glen Dawson (1-36) and Ben Lawes (1-31).

Wicketkeeper Jim Ryall was also on song with two sharp stumpings and a couple of catches as Weymouth restricted their opponents to 174.

The Seasiders reply began badly with Dean Janaway (8) and Ben Lawes (1) both sent packing early on and things looked decidedly sticky after Ryall (15) departed with the total on 50.

However, a solid fourth wicket stand of 55 between Dave Pearce and Paul Payne quickly repaired the damage with Payne playing some delightful strokes before holing out on 27.

His dismissal brought Knight to the crease and that was it as far as Parley were concerned. The all-rounder clubbed a lightning 31 not out, but he had the presence of mind to block a few deliveries as the winning target loomed to give Dave Pearce a shot at reaching his half century.

On 49 with a run needed for victory, the burly vice-captain obliged by hammering his seventh boundary to secure a six-wicket win with more than eight overs to spare.

Captain Lawes added: "I can't complain about a display like that. All the lads contributed to what was a convincing win against a very high-class cricket team.

"Our bowling and fielding was top quality today and that was probably the best I have ever seen David Trotter bowl.

"We put pressure on ourselves by losing a couple of early wickets, but Paul Payne and Dave Pearce batted brilliantly to get us back on track and then Chris Knight kept it going to see us home in style."