DORCHESTER skipper Jon Legg called on his side to stay in touch with the Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League leaders in order to mount a title challenge later this season.
Legg’s men are third after a 14-run defeat to leaders Wimborne last time out, falling behind by 25 points with ten games to go.
Their match against Sherborne at Dorchester Rec tomorrow (1pm) closes out the first half of the season and Legg is eyeing up a win to build momentum for the all-important second half.
He told Echosport: “Preparation doesn’t really change for us, ultimately we need to take ten wickets and score enough to defend or chase a target.
READ MORE: Sturminster & Hinton beat Weymouth by three wickets
“It’s very important for us to get the win, it’ll keep us in check with teams above us going into the second half of the season.
“If we can string a few wins together, it’ll give us a bit of momentum going forward.”
Dorchester Seconds visit Winton in County Division Three, while Dorchester Thirds host Charlton Down Seconds in Division Six (both tomorrow 1pm).
Dorchester: Legg, Jones, Ryall, Mitchem, Belt, Rajendar, Subramanian, Narasimhan, Dunham, Owens, Barrett.
Looking to keep pace with Dorchy are Bere Regis, lurking three points behind their close rivals in the standings.
Brian Keegan’s men enjoyed a fine six-wicket success at Cattistock & Symene last weekend but face a much greater test against reigning champions Poole tomorrow (1pm).
Bere will have home advantage this week and Keegan spoke of his respect for the league’s second-placed team.
He said: “We want to compete and Poole always seem to be permanently in the top two. It’s an acid test for us to see how we measure up.
“The business part of the season is starting now. If we can get a run of results, it pushes us up into a decent position.
“Poole are very good at doing the basics and keeping it simple. It’s a good blueprint to try and follow. We’ll be hopefully putting pressure on Poole, rather than the other way round.”
Bere have three changes as Tom Munnings and Sam Goodhew are unavailable, while Adam Raymond drops to the second team. Rich Payne, Dean Rogerson and Theo Talbot replace the trio.
Bere Regis Seconds, meanwhile, visit Cattistock & Symene Seconds in Division Three tomorrow (1pm).
Bere: Russell, Rich Cole, Talbot, Robertson, T Goodhew, Murphy, Payne, Rogerson, J Keegan, B Keegan, Walbridge.
Bere main sponsor: Booth Gadenne.
Bere first XI match ball sponsor: Bere Regis Dental Practice.
Bere second XI match ball sponsor: Dorset Property Surveys.
Martinstown have also come into form in the Premier League, taking back-to-back wins for the first time under captain Charlie Durant after seeing off Sherborne and Broadstone.
Town now have the chance of an unprecedented hat-trick under Durant when they host Cattistock & Symene at Lower Ashton Farm tomorrow (1pm).
He said: “We don’t tend to look at opposition that much. We know if we do our jobs we can beat any team in the league.
“Cattistock are in a similar position to us. Maybe on paper it’s one of the more straightforward fixtures but we know they’ve got some really good players that can cause damage.
“They definitely should’ve beaten us in the same fixture last year, we got away with one. We won with nine (wickets) down.
“I don’t want anyone walking into the game thinking off the back of two wins these are going to be a walkover, because they most certainly aren’t.”
Martinstown are without Ed Nichols and Tom Pope, with Ry Gerety and Dave Trotter coming in.
Martinstown Seconds visit Swanage Seconds in Division Four tomorrow (1pm).
Martinstown (from): S Gerety, S Williams, Maltby, Lewis, F Williams, Hill, Pope, Kane, Coombs, R Gerety, Durant, Trotter.
In Division One, Portland Red Triangle host Puddletown in a derby sure to feature a feisty brand of cricket.
Matt Randell’s Triangle were comprehensively beaten by eight wickets at Stalbridge last week, while a depleted Puddletown suffered a 225-run thrashing by leaders Poole Town Seconds.
And Randell is relishing the home comforts of Reforne tomorrow (1pm).
“We know what sort of pitch we’re going to get and a lot of us are used to batting up here now,” he said.
“Some of them, who prefer to bat away, have changed their game slightly when we’re playing at home to make it work for them.
“We’re definitely hoping for a bit more in the surface this week, so it comes on a little bit more.”
Meanwhile, Puddletown skipper Ryan Norman is familiar with plenty of Portland’s players, a factor he labelled “good and bad”.
He said: “It will be interesting to see what the pitch is like and what sort of side they’ve got, because they’ve been the same with us with players here and players not.
“We obviously know a lot about each other, which is good and bad. Last week was not unexpected due to the unavailability so we’ll go there and see what we can do.”
Portland hand a debut to ex-Weymouth and Martinstown batter Ben Doidge, while Eddie Moles and Joe Adkins return.
Puddletown will make a late selection call amid a host of changes this week, chief among them Rob Snow missing out for Adam Barrett.
Portland: Laws, M Barrett, Doidge, Randell, D Adkins, Farley, J Adkins, Moles, J Marsh, Potts, Samuel.
In Division Five, Portland’s second string visit Stalbridge Development while Puddletown Seconds host leaders Poole Town Fourths (both 1pm tomorrow).
Elsewhere, Weymouth are aiming to end a run of two losses when they entertain Cerne Valley at Redlands in Division Two tomorrow (1pm).
The Seasiders have lost to Charlton Down plus Sturminster & Hinton but remain fourth in the table, with Cerne in sixth and 11 points separating the sides.
Skipper Lloyd Beals is mindful of an improved bowling display with Weymouth only taking nine wickets in those two games.
He said: “We will be searching for wickets up front and then regularly after that.
“They’ve only bowled one team out so far but consistently score around the 200 mark. That may affect the way we approach the game.”
Unbeaten Weymouth Seconds travel to Lytchett in Division Five tomorrow (1pm).
Weymouth: England, Beals, Walton, Wilson, Wills, Gregory, Whyte, Guyett, Urumancheri, Mitchell, Hoyes.
Matchday sponsor: Active Mobility.
Player sponsor: Advoco Accountants.
Ground renovation sponsor: GRBS.
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