2023 Wessex Internet Dorset League week eight - previews

Dorchy tomorrow travel to the Leaze (1pm) looking to close the gap to the Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League leaders and inflict their first loss of 2023.

Both sides are annual title contenders and honours were even between them last year with one win apiece.

While Legg stopped short of saying victory is a necessity, with 16 points the gap, he feels a win would stand Dorchester in “good stead”.

“It’s not necessarily a must-win, as we know most teams are able to cause an upset,” he told Echosport.

READ MORE: Nick Voss century sinks Weymouth

“But a win here would put us in good stead going into the second half of the season.

“Wimborne look a good side, they’ve recruited well over the winter, as have we, which will make for an interesting game.

“We have to back ourselves, this will be the biggest game of our season so far.”

Rob Nobbs and Jamie Barrett miss out for Jack Owens and Brandon King.

In County Division Three, Dorchester Seconds host Broadstone Seconds at the Rec, while Dorchester Thirds entertain Shaftesbury Seconds at St Osmund’s (both tomorrow 1pm).

Dorchester: Legg, Narasimhan, Owens, Mitchem, Jones, Rajendar, Belt, Ryall, King, Dunham, Subramanian.

Premier neighbours Martinstown are meanwhile hunting their first back-to-back win since skipper Charlie Durant took charge in 2022.

Town convincingly beat Sherborne by seven wickets last time out and now travel to the Delph to face a resurgent fifth-placed Broadstone side.

Durant said: “In fairness, it’s probably the closest ground in the league to ours. I always feel we have an advantage going there that others don’t, playing on a small ground as well.

“I’ve been captain now over a season and we haven’t gone back-to-back since I had the role, so it would be really nice to do so now and build a bit of momentum.

“I’d like to hit the turn of the season with three wins under our belt, but one game at a time. Broadstone look stronger than they have done the last few years.”

Martinstown are without Ed Nichols, Dave Trotter and Nathan McNab, with Tom Pope, Ry Gerety and Fin Williams returning.

Martinstown Seconds host Cheselbourne in Division Four tomorrow (1pm).

Martinstown: T Pope, S Gerety, W Maltby, Lewis, S Williams, F Williams, R Gerety, Durant, Coombs, Hill, Kane.

Divisional rivals Bere Regis, sitting fourth, are also away as they tackle Cattistock & Symene tomorrow (1pm).

Brian Keegan’s men beat promoted side Blandford last weekend but are wary of a Foxes side that possesses quality players despite only earning one win this season.

Keegan said: “To be fair, they’re a decent side. They’ve got decent players in there, it starts with Steve Tucker and we’ll be conscious of that.

“Off the back of last week’s result, we want to build on that and keep concentrating on ourselves.

“There isn’t any easy game in the Premier League. If you think there is, that’s when the banana skin’s there so we’ve got to give them the respect they deserve.”

Jacob Kennard (back) is a long-term absentee but Tim Goodhew, Tom Munnings and new seamer Adam Raymond come in at the expense of Theo Talbot, Rich Payne and Dean Rogerson.

Tim Goodhew, right, returns for Bere Regis after his honeymoon (Image: BRIAN ROSSITER)

Bere Regis Seconds host Winton in Division Three tomorrow (1pm).

Bere: Rich Cole, Russell, S Goodhew, T Goodhew, Munnings, Robertson, J Keegan, Murphy, B Keegan, Walbridge, Raymond.

Bere main sponsor: Booth Gadenne.

Bere first XI match ball sponsor: Dorset Reclamation.

Bere second XI match ball sponsor: Bere Regis Dental Practice.

In County Division One, Puddletown entertain leaders Poole Town Seconds at Plush tomorrow (1pm).

Ryan Norman’s men have won two of their past three games but face a Poole side with only one defeat in seven rounds.

Norman said: “They’ve obviously been doing good things, they beat Chalke last week.

“Again, for us it’s going to be a case of the big players standing up again. Availability is short so we’re going to have to see how we get on and try our best.”

Puddletown face another selection headache this week, with established stars Adam Weir, Adam Barrett, James Morris and Dave Morris among those unavailable.

Adam Weir, left, is among those missing for Puddletown (Image: GRAHAM HUNT)

Puddletown Seconds visit Portland Red Triangle Seconds at Reforne tomorrow (1pm).

Portland’s first team, meanwhile, are level on points in fourth place with tomorrow’s opponents Stalbridge (1pm).

Triangle travel to the Park having plundered 321 against Beaminster last weekend and skipper Matt Randell expects another strong showing on a ground suited to his players.

He said: “Stalbridge are always stronger at home and certainly have some really good players.

“We’ll go with the exact same approach and look to get some runs on the board. Some of our lads have good records at Stalbridge and fond memories of scoring runs, it’s a decent track.”

Portland welcome back Rich Samuel and Ryan Price at the expense of Riley Marsh.

Triangle (from): Laws, M Barrett, D Adkins, Randell, Price, Samuel, Farley, J Adkins, Doughty, J Marsh, Potts, Moles.

Lastly, Weymouth are licking their wounds after an eight-wicket hammering by Charlton Down last weekend.

The Seasiders continue their Division Two campaign at bottom side Sturminster & Hinton tomorrow (1pm), with captain Lloyd Beals going all out for victory and a positive reaction to last week’s defeat.

Weymouth skipper Lloyd Beals returns for the Seasiders (Image: IDRIS MARTIN)

He said: “No game should be must-win but it seems to feel like that.

“It’s easy for players to react to teams down the bottom. They need to apply themselves a lot better against the teams at the top.

“Then maybe games like tomorrow don’t come with as much must-win pressure.”

Weymouth make seven changes as Beals, Neil Walton, Kieron Womble, Marco Nott, Laurence Tonkin, Jackson Jose and Adam Hoyes all return.

Weymouth: J Sapsworth, Beals, Walton, Womble, Wills, Nott, Tarry, Tonkin, Urumancheri, Jose, Hoyes.

Matchday sponsor: Active Mobility.

Player sponsor: Advoco Accountants.

Ground renovation sponsor: GRBS.