DAVE Ralph is back in the Dorset fold and set to make his 50th Middleton Cup appearance for the county.

The Greenhill and county skip called a halt to his bowls career at the end of the 2005 season to take a break from the sport and spend more time pursing his other passion, the Terras.

Although he planned a "softly, softly" return this year, playing for the club's second team in the Dorset League and appearing in South Dorset BA matches, Ralph accepted an invitation from Dorset manager Brian Shepherd to the Middleton Cup trials - and now finds himself as a skip in the pre-season friendly against Hampshire at Dorchester on Sunday (2pm).

Ralph is renowned not only as a quality bowler but for his enthusiasm on the green and Shepherd will obviously value the presence of the 52-year-old to inject some vocal passion into the team.

Ralph said: "I planned a low-key return to bowls because I wanted to make sure I would still enjoy the game before maybe stepping up to bigger things.

"But I'm loving it and I could not refuse the opportunity to join the Dorset squad and hopefully make my 50th Middleton Cup appearance if I am chosen for the team next month."

After the Hampshire match Shepherd will name his rinks for the opening Middleton Cup group match against Devon on Saturday, June 7. As far as the boss is concerned the side against Hampshire is virtually the line-up going to Exonia.

Another former county skip making his return to the squad is Wayne Garnett (Dorchester) while newcomers include teen-agers Carl Fountain (Wessex) and Chris Lawrence (Wimborne) as well as Alexandra Park skip Steve Chalker.

Alec McKenzie (Poole Park) and Sherborne's Roy Farrant have been given the chance to resurrect their cup careers.

Fountain - a Dorset Liberty Trophy bowler - has just completed a fine first indoor season with Bournemouth whom he helped reach the Egham Trophy final and Lawrence is another of the talented Lawrence brothers who reached the under-18 county indoor final last month.

The m ost notable absentee from 2007 is Stacey Dickinson who played his last game for the county in the Liberty Trophy during October before leaving the area and moving to Portsmouth.

Although he has since returned to Dorset and is working at Canford School he has decided not to join what is now his local club Wimborne and is taking time out from bowls this summer.

DORSET rinks to play Hampshire in a friendly at Dorchester on Sunday (2pm): Chris Lawrence (Wimborne), Nick Voss, Martin Pavey, Wayne Garnett (all Dorchester); Carl Fountain (Wessex), Derek Ames (Alexandra Park), Doug Rumble, Barry Patterson (both Greenhill); Mike Durant (Greenhill), Pat Ravelin, Alan Miller, Pete Willats (all Alexandra Park); Paul Pomeroy (Lyme Regis), Alec McKenzie (Poole Park), Phil Lawrence (Wimborne), Steve Chalker (Alexandra Park); Ben Paulley (Greenhill), Roy Farrant (Sherborne), Craig Shepherd (Wimborne), Dave Ralph (Greenhill); Derick Gray (Greenhill), Chris Weekes (Wimborne), Kevin Hodder, Mike Chislett (both Greenhill).

Reserves: Ron McCarthy, Kevin Walbridge (both Greenhill), Jamie Lockwood (Dorchester), Tony Sargent (Wellworthy).