FORMER county batsman David Maslen has rejoined defending champions Dorchester ahead their opening Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League fixture at Wimborne & Colehill tomorrow (1.30pm).

Maslen, who represented Dorset in the late 1990s, returns to Dorchester after an eight-year absence and skipper Martyn Richards is delighted to welcome him back.

He said: “David’s got a real thirst to get back into the game and we’re delighted to have him back.

“He made a few appearances for Dorset but work commitments always hindered his chances, and had the situation been different I’m sure he would have gone on to earn a lot more caps.

“Lacking one or two players at the start of the season like we are, it’s important to have someone with experience and a real class act, which David is. His experience will be invaluable.

“We’re also delighted to give two under-16s, in James Dunham and Joe Power, their Premier League debuts as we believe that if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”

The county town side will also be boosted by the returns of Steve Gerety, Phil Morley, Quenton Miller and current Dorset squad member Dan Belt after all four missed last Saturday’s friendly defeat to Poole.

But they are still without two of last year’s star performers in Rob Waite and Shannon Dunnett while new signing Xenon Ellis has yet to be given the go-ahead to leave Australia.

Richards added: “Xenon we’re hoping is only a few weeks away from coming over. Rob will be back earlier than expected so should only miss the first three games of the season, which is fantastic news.

“Shannon will hopefully be back in June and we hope he can carry on from where he left off last year.”

Tomorrow’s opponents Wimborne & Colehill finished in the lower half of the table last term but Richards is not taking anything for granted.

He said: “They’ve still got some dangerous players so we’ll have to be at the top of our game. We won’t be taking them lightly and we won’t be worrying about last year’s table.”

Dorchester: Richards, Haynes, Gerety, Belt, Tweddle, Maslen, Sibley, Morley, Miller, Dunham, Power.

n Dorchester Seconds begin life in Division One with a home match against rivals Beaminster while the third team, who also gained promotion last year, host Parley Thirds in Division Seven.