PAUL Payne is looking forward to returning home for the first time in a month when Wimborne & Colehill visit Redlands tomorrow (1.30pm).
The Seasiders have been on their travels for the last three weekends, losing twice but gaining a mightily impressive victory at Dorset Premier League champions Parley.
Second-bottom Wimborne’s only victory on their travels has come at basement boys Marnhull, but Payne is taking nothing for granted as Weymouth look to put daylight between themselves and tomorrow’s opponents.
He said: “Over the last couple of weeks we’ve played some good cricket in the two toughest games of the season.
“We had a great win at Parley and the game in our hands at Poole.
“It’s nice to put in the performances against the better teams – we’ve been trying to put performances together on a consistent basis all year so we will be looking to put on a third straight decent performance.
“It may be a different game tomorrow but we can’t put in any less of a performance than we have been doing recently.”
Ben Doidge and Ben Lawes are both unavailable so Michael Pearce and Dean Janaway return, having impressed for the seconds over the last few weeks.
And with no travelling to be done, Payne is looking forward to the luxuries of Redlands.
“You wouldn’t believe how much I’m looking forward to a game at home,” he said. “I haven’t played any sort of game at home, whether it be on a Saturday or Evening League, for a month.
“Redlands is one of the nicest places to play in the league so we are looking forward to going back there.”
The two sides played out a dramatic rain-affected tie earlier in the season when John Armfield and Matt Lawes did not quite make the third run needed for success on the last ball.
With the last encounter being so tight, Payne is not expecting much different tomorrow.
He said: “Some teams have individual stars and some not-so-great other players whereas Wimborne are an all-round team and consistent the whole way through.
“We won’t look at the opposition though, we’ll just concentrate on our own game.”
Weymouth: Payne, Ryall, J Armfield, Womble, Janaway, McKay, Falloon, M Lawes, M Pearce, Whyte, Hutchens.
* Weymouth Seconds are preparing themselves for a Bournemouth backlash when the two sides clash at Chapel Gate tomorrow (1.30pm).
Second-placed Bournemouth left Redlands with their tail between their legs earlier this season when beaten by John Ryan’s seconds and the Seasiders’ skipper is preparing for the high-fliers to hit back.
He said: “We put one over on them down here and I’m sure they will look at strengthening their chances of catching Suttoners.”
Cam Armfield and Vijay Mote return to replace the first-team bound Pearce and Janaway.
Weymouth: Almond, Carrington, Bray, Fitzgerald, Trotter, Ulhaq, Mitchem, Walton, Mote, C Armfield, Ryan.
* Weymouth Thirds host Broadstone Fourths at Redlands tomorrow (2pm) looking to extend their lead at the top of the Dorset League Division Five table.
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