ROB Woodman produced a masterful display of batting to put Dorset on the ropes at Dean Park yesterday.

After the opening day of the Minor Counties Championship clash was wiped out by the weather, Woodman took control on day two as the visitors declared on 333-8 during the final session.

Woodman’s brutal knock of 170 included 17 fours and two towering sixes, with the former Somerset man sharing in a 102 partnership alongside opener Matt Thompson.

Woodman’s dominance was clear, as Thompson made just 26 before he was caught by Nick Park off the bowling of captain Tom Hicks.

Wickets fell at regular intervals around Woodman, with Matt Metcalfe (1-46), Mark Wolstenholme (2-61) and Jack Leach (1-59) all collecting scalps.

But it was left to Hicks (3-86) to remove the impressive Woodman, the hosts’ skipper drawing Devon’s star man into a stumping by wicketkeeper Chris Park with the visitors on 281-6.

Neil Hancock (25), David Lye (19) and Sandy Allen (31 not out) all made useful contributions as the visitors reached 300 after 80 overs.

In reply, and with little time left in the day, Dorset sent out night watchman Max Waller with Nick Park. Waller, though, couldn’t survive until stumps and was caught by James Burke off the bowling of Chris Bradley with Dorset on 39.

The hosts eventually closed on 45-1 with Nick Park unbeaten on 25.