WEYMOUTH SECONDS 267-9 (20pts) beat BRANKSOME 198 (8pts) by 69 runs

TWO experienced arms led Weymouth Seconds to a fantastic first victory of the season over Branksome at Red-lands in Dorset League Division One.

The visitors were only able to field 10 men but they still put up a great fight with the bat, with their run chase eventually falling 69 runs short after Graham Puckett (4-61) and Dave Trotter (3-66) had taken seven wickets between them.

However, they were not the only ones to impress for the Seasiders who also saw Cameron Armfield (46), Callum Guest (40) and Bill Trevett (50) all excel with the bat.

Stand-in skipper Trotter said: “We batted very well with the right and left-hand opening partnership of Joe Trevett and Cameron Armfield working superbly.

“Our middle-order also did well for runs to keep the momentum going and to set a target of 267 was very pleasing. Graham and I then opened up the bowling and Branksome attacked from the word go.

“We picked up a couple of early wickets but they kept smashing it, so I took myself off and brought on Simon Mitchem who bowled extremely well.

“We took a gamble and decided to let him bowl his overs straight through with John Ryan plugging away at the other end. John was also fantastic and deserved wickets for his efforts but the breakthroughs eventually came with Callum Guest and Toby Mason holding some good catches.

“I then took a chance and brought Graham and I back on to chance our arms in a bid to take the remaining wickets, and fortunately we did so in just five overs.”

Trotter went on to add: “Overall, we showed improvements in all aspects of our game and had we begun the season like that we would not be sat down the bottom of the league.

“The great thing now though is that we finally have competition for places and I thought all those that came up from the thirds for this game performed very well and proved they can play at a higher level.”

* Weymouth Seconds now lie second-bottom in the table and will host Hamworthy Recreation at Redlands tomorrow (1.30pm), who sit just two places above them.

Dan Hutchens, Michael Pearce and Jonny Armfield come into the Seasiders’ line-up while Matt Batchelor, Bill Trevett and the injured Callum Guest all miss out.

Weymouth Seconds: J Trevett, C Armfield, J Armfield, Womble, Mitchem, Almond, Trotter, Puckett, Pearce, Hutchens, Ryan.

* Weymouth Thirds will also be looking to seal back-to-back victories tomorrow (2pm) when they host Broadstone Thirds.

The Seasiders beat Wimborne & Colehill Thirds last weekend – their first success of the summer.

Weymouth Thirds: Johnson, Carrington, A Sterling, Batchelor, Sers, Guyett, Mason, Tucker, Mitchell, Bowden, P Sterling.