NEW boys Bere Regis enjoyed a winning start to life in Dorchester Evening League’s top tier.

Last year’s Division Two champions, took on Hazelbury Bryan in their opening contest and posted a competitive 117-5 from their allotted overs with Dean Rogerson (34) leading the charge.

Bryan struggled in reply, thanks in part to the efforts of Steve Cheeseman (4-25), and were dismissed for 74 – 44 runs short of victory.

Hazelbury (155-5) made up for that defeat with victory over Colliton Club in the first round of the Knockout Cup.

Will Howes was the star man, plundering 86, while Alfie Fitzgerald returned impressive figures of 3-4.

Winfrith and Frampton also made it into round two with victories over Puddletown RFC and Charlton Down Seconds respectively.

Simon Allen notched 73 runs as Winfrith (156-5) breezed past the rugby club (58), while Frampton (102-2) reached their victory target with eight wickets in hand.

However, both Winfrith and Frampton were brought back to Earth when they assumed Division Two duties.

The former (50) were comprehensively beaten by Charlton Down (146-4), before losing out to Abbotsbury (116-6) by 13 runs in a much tighter contest, with the latter (131-5) going down at the hands of last year’s runners-up Cattistock (161-3), whose Joe Baggs finished unbeaten on 56.

Puddletown Reserves began their bid for an immediate return to the second tier with victory over Martinstown Seconds (153-5), despite the best efforts of Nick Quintrell (86no).

Martinstown (102-6) did recover from that setback to defeat their Charlton Down counterparts (101-8).

Henry Lewis inflicted the majority of the damage as he snared 3-7 before top-scoring with 27.

The only other outing in the division saw Churches United (93-4) overcome Puddletown RFC (90).

RESULTS Knockout Cup: Hazelbury Bryan 155-5 (Will Howes 86, Giles Woodford 2-28) beat Colliton Club (Giles Woodford 23, Alfie Fitzgerald 3-4); Winfrith 156-5 (Simon Allen 73, J Green 2-51) beat Puddletown RFC 58 (J Green 18, Adam Raymond 4-15); Frampton 102-2 (P Horne 55no, B Joe 1-21) beat Charlton Down II 99-6 (Ian Doyle 47no, N Brown 3-22).

Division One: Bere Regis 117-5 (Dean Rogerson 34, S Frampton 2-15) beat Hazelbury Bryan 74 (Will Howes 25, Steve Cheeseman 4-25).

Division Two: Charlton Down 146-4 (Jon Butterworth 66, Simon Allen 2-25) beat Winfrith 50 (Ryan Norman/Dan Pope 16, Kim Park 4-21); Cattistock 161-3 (Joe Baggs 56no, Chris Duerdoth 1-27) beat Frampton 131-5 (Chris Walbrin 39no, Buddy Langford 3-30); Abbotsbury 116-6 (Marcus Evans 39, Ryan Norman 2-31) beat Winfrith 103-7 (Simon Allen 32, N Fitch 4-25).

Division Three: Martinstown II 102-6 (Henry Lewis 27, B Joe 2-30) beat Charlton Down II 101-8 (Ian Doyle 63, Henry Lewis 3-7); Churches United 93-4 (Dave Morris 35no, S Roberts 3-26) beat Puddletown RFC 90 (C Ricketts 34, M Boggust 4-29); Puddletown Reserves 166-8 (Steve Chaldecott 77, Gary Jessup 3-50) beat Martinstown II 153-5 (Nick Quintrell 86no, G Herron 1-16).

FIXTURES Thursday, Knockout Cup: Puddletown Reserves v Herrison Youth.

Division Two: Frampton v Winfrith, Charlton Down v Plush.

Friday, Division One: Herrison Youth v Hazelbury Bryan, Martinstown v Cerne Valley.

Monday, May 17, Division Two: Cattistock v Abbotsbury, Winfrith v Puddletown.

Division Three: Plush v Martinstown II.