DORCHESTER captain Gautham Rajendar has labelled as “unfortunate” his side’s 10-point deduction for fielding an unregistered player.
Last weekend, Dorchester handed a debut to new signing Will Maltby but the batter was not registered in time to face Poole.
League officials have stepped in with a 10-point penalty, leaving Dorchester with only seven points after collecting an initial 17 for beating the 2022 champions.
Addressing the situation, Rajendar told Echosport: “It’s unfortunate, yes, but the lads showed what we can do on the field, which is possibly the bigger takeaway from the game.”
READ MORE: Dorchester beat Poole Town by 13 runs
Dorchester have the chance to earn back some of their lost points when they travel to Sherborne tomorrow (12.30pm) in Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League action.
“Our game at Sherborne was rained off at the end of last season, so looking forward to a good game hopefully,” Rajendar added.
“I think with the revised Prem and recruitment considered, all teams will be fielding their strongest 11 and we should expect a tough game week in, week out.”
Dorchester are without Maltby this week, so in comes all-rounder Simon Mitchem.
Dorchester Seconds host fellow promoted side Royal Challengers Sports in County Division Two.
Dorchester Thirds and Fourths host Sturminster & Hinton Seconds and travel to Chalke Valley Lions in Division Six West and East respectively (all 1pm tomorrow).
Dorchester: Ryall, Barrett, Mitchem, Owens, Jones, Rajendar, Belt, Peach, Je Stewart, Hill, Nobbs.
Elsewhere in Premier One, Bere Regis host reigning champions Wimborne tomorrow (12.30pm).
Both sides won last weekend, meaning one will lose their perfect record.
For Bere captain Brian Keegan, though, this fixture presents a test of his team’s consistency.
He said: “I mentioned last week about consistency, and that’s one thing Wimborne bring. That’s what makes you champions.
“Regular selection, players available and the consistency that comes with it. They were worthy champions and it’s a good measure for us to come up against them.
“We need to build on our result from last week. There’s still plenty to work on and we will need to improve to hopefully beat them.”
Tom Munnings and Sean Walbridge miss out, with Rich Payne and Pete Russell returning, while Bere will also debut their new Frogbox streaming platform for live match coverage.
Early Division Two leaders Bere Regis Seconds visit Sturminster & Hinton tomorrow (1pm).
Bere: J Keegan, Russell, S Goodhew, Anderson, Robertson, T Goodhew, Murphy, Rich Cole, Payne, Rogerson, B Keegan.
Bere main sponsor: Booth Gadenne.
Bere first XI ball sponsor: GMS.
Bere second XI ball sponsor: Simon Munnings Planning Dorset.
In Premier Two, Martinstown are also looking to build on victory last week.
Charlie Durant’s men saw off Christchurch and tomorrow (12.30pm) host Hamworthy Rec, who did not play after the elements intervened.
And Durant hopes Town can catch Rec cold. “I’ve not checked if they had a pre-season game, but it’s nice that we weren’t rain affected,” he said.
“We’ve been training well and we’re in the swing of things, whereas for them it’s first game of the season. It’s always difficult to start a season when you haven’t really played.
“It’s always nice to start with a win and it’s about building on that now. Hamworthy are a side I don’t know a great deal about, I’ve never played them. It’s a new test.”
Martinstown are without Jacob Coombs (shoulder), Ryan Blair and Matt Rimmer but Fraser Hill, Dave Trotter and Jonny Samways come in.
In Division Four, Martinstown Seconds visit Poole Town Fourths at Whitecliff tomorrow (1pm).
Martinstown: Nichols, Lewis, S Williams, R Gerety, F Williams, Kane, Hill, Trotter, Durant, Samways, J Gerety.
Weymouth, meanwhile, are looking to bounce back from a shock Division One defeat to Marnhull last week.
The Seasiders lost seven wickets for eight runs in a massive collapse and will aim to right those wrongs at Wimborne Seconds tomorrow (1pm).
Weymouth skipper Lloyd Beals said: “We’ve put Saturday to bed and moved on. It is what it is, if it starts becoming a habit maybe my batters should try another sport.
“Losing seven wickets for eight runs is certainly never a good thing and I’d be amazed if it ever happens again, even if we all went out in blindfolds.”
Assessing Wimborne after their defeat to Corfe Mullen last week, Beals added: “We’ll find out how good they are.
“I’m sure they think we’re a wounded animal and sniffing blood. We’ll see.”
Weymouth make three changes as John Wilson, Jack Sapsworth and Shafeek Urumancheri come in for Jackson Jose, Dom Webb and Harry Mitchell.
Weymouth Seconds could take back-to-back wins in Division Four when hosting Christchurch Seconds tomorrow (1pm).
Weymouth: Gregory, England, Walton, Womble, Haylock, Wilson, Wills, J Sapsworth, Hoyes, Urumancheri, Beals.
Matchday sponsor: Active Mobility.
Also plotting a response to an opening day loss are Portland Red Triangle, who suffered defeat to Stalbridge in Division One.
Matt Randell’s men visit Beaminster tomorrow (1pm), with Chris Park’s side yet to play after a cancellation at Poole Seconds.
Randell said: “We need to get that win. This week we need to focus on some of the things we didn’t get right.
“We’ll be looking for our top four to really kick on and make some runs, that will make a massive difference to us.”
Portland: Laws, M Barrett, D Adkins, Randell, J Adkins, Proffitt, Russell, J Marsh, Davey, Potts, L Adkins.
Finally, Puddletown are another side seeking their first win after losing to Dorchester Seconds last week in Division Two.
Adam Barrett’s men visit old adversaries Shaftesbury tomorrow (1pm), with the two sides having flown up through the divisions together in recent years.
Barrett said: “We’ve played them quite a few times down the years but we haven’t played them for a few, so I’m not sure how much their side has changed.
“We’ll just go with the side we have. We’re a close-knit bunch, we’re good friends off the pitch as well so we’ll go up there and see how we get on.”
Rob Snow and Adam Weir miss out for the Kingfishers.
Puddletown Seconds host Shaftesbury Seconds in Division Five tomorrow (1pm).
Puddletown: Barrett, Knight, Ry Norman, Re Norman, Clarke, Eccleson, D Morris, J Morris, Gosney, D Derrien, Gower.
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