STALBRIDGE 160 (4pts) lost to WEYMOUTH 156-2 (25pts) by eight wickets on a reduced run target.
THERE are few families who have done more for Weymouth Cricket Club over the years than the sport-crazy Pearces.
When volunteers are
needed for tasks such as umpiring, scoring, playing and sandwich making, up go the hands of husband and wife Dicky and Margery and their sons Michael and Dave.
The loyal quartet work tirelessly to ensure the smooth running of the club and they reaped their deserved rewards in spectacular style on Saturday.
As Dicky was guiding the club's youthful fourth team to a 35-run Dorset Division Six success against Abbotsbury on pitch two at Redlands, Margery was overseeing the seconds 10-wicket Division Two win over Wareham on pitch one from the comfort of the scorer's hut.
And while all that was going on at resort headquarters, Michael and Dave were steering the Seasiders' table topping first team to a fourth consecutive Premier Division victory up at Stalbridge.
The brothers' contribution to the eight-wicket win was truly remarkable - fast bowler Michael's figures of
4-35 included a brilliant hat-trick, while batsman Dave notched a fine unbeaten 52.
And the Pearces' efforts were hugely appreciated by first XI skipper Hugh Lawes, whose own wife Julie and sons, Ben, Matthew and Chris are all heavily involved in the running of the club.
"I often wonder where the club would be without the Pearces," he said. "All four of them make tremendous contributions every week and Michael and Dave were the real stars of the show for us up at Stalbridge."
Stalbridge's decision to bat first after winning the toss quickly backfired with South African paceman Siraag Abrahams taking a catch off his own bowling to dismiss opener Phil Anyan for a duck.
Visually shaken by that early set back, the hosts dug deep for the next couple of hours and they looked on course to set a challenging target having reached 151-4 in 35 overs.
To add to their woes, the Seasiders lost star fielder and former Terras goal
keeper, Paul Payne, who needed a prolonged spell of treatment after suffering a gash to his right hand.
But the re-introduction of Michael Pearce soon put paid to north Dorset side's hopes of a big score with Andy Taylor and Aussie Steve McCabe cleaned bowled in successive balls.
Minor Counties quickie Steve Forshaw then had the unenviable job of trying to deny Weymouth's former captain his hat-trick, but he failed miserably as Pearce delivered a snorter of a ball to remove his middle stump.
Suddenly the visitors were back on top and it was left to speedster Abrahams to steam roll the tailenders and bag his first five-wicket haul of the season.
Despite their superb comeback in the field, Weymouth were taking nothing for granted against, what on paper at least, is probably the best bowling attack in the Premier Division.
But Simon Talbot and Dean Janaway survived the early onslaught to take the reply beyond the 30 mark without loss.
Cracks did begin to appear after Janaway (7) popped up a return catch to Dan Britton and new boy Raj Lehal (0) was trapped leg before to the same bowler, but they were soon covered up following the arrival at the crease of Dave Pearce.
Pearce and former Danish international coach Talbot batted with great patience and authority and even a half-hour break for rain, which reduced the Seasiders' target to 156, failed to effect their concentration.
The defiant pair shared in a marvellous fourth wicket partnership of 125, with Pearce remaining unbeaten on 52 and Talbot still there at the end with 51 runs to his name.
A delighted Lawes added: "I think his spell against Portland the week before was the turning point for Michael and he's bowling as well now as he has ever done. We were really staring down the barrel of a gun at 151-4 and a score of 230 or 240 was very much on the cards.
"But he's come in a done the job just when it was needed and Siraag was there to do his bit as well to help restrict them to 160."
He continued: "With Payner unable to bat because of his injury, we were potentially up against it during our reply and so it was vital that we approached things in the right manner.
"Losing Dean Janaway and Raj Lehal in quick succession was obviously a worry, but then Simon Talbot and Dave Pearce did exactly what was required of them and both played brilliantly to see the team home.
"You can't ask for much than four wins out of four, but there's a long way to go and plenty of hard work ahead and so at this stage we are taking nothing for
granted."
Payne received three
stitches in his hand after being taken to the Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester after the game.
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