THE organiser of an annual charity cricket match has spoken of his disappointment after this year’s event was cancelled.

Simon Joslin was all set to see his HMP Dorchester side take on a team from HMYOI Portland at the Rec.

The match, which raises money for the Kingfisher children’s ward at Dorset County Hospital, was postponed at 4.30pm on the day following wet weather the previous night.

However, Joslin arrived at the Rec at 6pm and was bemused to find a dry outfield.

He said: “If we had been given more notice we could’ve tried to find another ground to play on. I can understand they wanted the pitch to be okay for the game between Dorchester and Wey-mouth last Saturday but I just wish they had never taken the booking in the first place.

“We were not even allowed to use the artificial wicket which is supposed to be an all-weather surface.

“I don’t think people realise how big the game actually is – not in terms of standard but the fact that we raise a lot of money for charity.

“It means we won’t raise as much money now and that’s what it’s all about. We also lost the money we spent on food for the barbecue and the hiring of the bouncy castle.

“I’m not even sure if we will be able to rearrange the game now. I know someone at Charlton Down and there’s a chance they could come to our aid but it does take a lot of organising.”

Speaking on behalf of Dorchester Town Council, deputy town clerk Steve Newman said: “The match was cancelled due to wet weather on the Thursday and Friday.

“The wickets were still wet and even though the artificial wicket was okay, those taking part would have been playing over the grass wickets and they would have been torn up – having an adverse effect on future bookings.”