Sport

Dorset Cricket League Premier League June 19

Poole Town 223-5 Sherborne 181-8 Poole (19pts) bt Sherborne (6) by 42 runs

Sherborne won the toss and put Poole into bat and were rewarded with two quick wickets. A third fell with the score on 88 but Sherborne were then punished by a stand of 107. Three late wickets helped but no bowling figures stood out, bar the economical Shane Pulling who conceded 19 off nine overs. Josh Lawrence made a strong start to the Sherborne innings, scoring 32 of 39 when Mark Roca fell for six. Lawrence was third out with the score on 60, after which the visitors collapsed to 1298. Rob Wigley (22o) and Richard Carter (36no) battled but Poole bowled tightly and ran out comfortable winners.

June 12 Sherborne 285-1 Christchurch 224-7 Sherborne (18pts) beat Christchurch by 61 runs

Skipper Josh Lawrence continued his remarkable form with his third century of the season to see Sherborne through in a highscoring contest. He carried his bat for 158no including 20 boundaries and now averages 97.8 this season. Only one wicket fell, that of Mark Roca (37) with the score on 94. Marc Lock then joined Lawrence in a 191-run partnership of which Lock scored 70 not out. The last five overs yielded 80 runs, with Lawrence scoring three consecutive sixes. The strong finish put the game beyond Christchurch. An opening stand of 80 in 18 overs laid a base but wickets fell steadily. With no fireworks to come the game petered out.

STALBRIDGE CC: Flying high in Division One with only one defeat this season

Dorset Cricket League Division One June 19 Stalbridge 128-2 Witchampton 126-9 Stalbridge (19pts) bt Witchampton (4) by 8 wickets

Stalbridge continued an impressive winning streak with four wins in a row since narrowly losing to league leaders Puddletown a month ago – their only defeat of the season. Witchampton elected to bat but lost two wickets quickly to Stuart Sweatman who conceded just 14 runs from his eight overs. The visitors recovered to 552 but then collapsed to 98-9 before their last pairing scratched another 27 runs. Howard Batten fiished with 4-39. A total of 126 from 40 overs was never going to worry a confident Stalbridge team, who moved into second 30 points behind Puddletown and one ahead of Hamworthy, who they play tomorrow.

Portland 216-9 Marnhull 135 all out Portland (20pts) bt Marnhull (7) by 81 runs

Ashley Young took 5-39 as Marnhull restricted Portland to a moderate total, skipper Matthew Randall the only batsman to trouble scorers, with 77 off 70. But from 51-2, Marnhull collapsed to 90-8. No 8 bat Spencer Pearce top-scored with 38 as Marnhull subsided in 23 overs.

Weymouth 244-5 Compton House 184 Weymouth (20pts) bt Compton (7) by 60 runs

Weymouth won the toss and Wilson (65) and Beals (63) led the home team to 244 aided by 39 extras. Wickets fell as Compton tried to build a response, with Sapsworth the pick of the bowlers (3-14). Michael Harper (41) top scored for Compton.

June 12 Beaminster 53 Stalbridge 266-8 Stalbridge (20pts) bt Beaminster (4) by 213 runs

A century from Stuart Sweatman (103) set Stalbridge on the way to an impressive total, with James Lewis also contributing a quickfire 62. Sweatman then ripped Beaminster apart with 3-6 off eight overs. Andy Dike also took 3-13 as the visitors were scuttled in 22 overs.

Marnhull 93 Puddletown 97-1 Puddletown (20pts) bt Marnhull (1) by 9 wickets

Swanage 256-7 Compton House 93 Swanage (20pts) bt Compton (4) by 163 runs

Dorset Cricket League Division Two June 19

Blandford 226-3 Wimborne 2nds 224-7 Blandford (18pts) bt Wimborne (6) by 7 wickets

Wimborne scored well after a shaky start left them at 48-3. Dan Hilder (52no) steadied the ship and the lower order posted a respectable 224. But Blandford skipper Luke Carter was in imperious form, sharing a century opening stand with Alex Mitchell and carried his bat with 113no. Wayward bowling cost 35 extras and victory was reached with three overs to spare. Blandford are seven points clear top of the table.

Shillingstone 86 Poole Town 2nds 164-7 Poole (19pts) bt Shillingstone (4) by 78 runs

Put into bat, Poole were reined in by tight bowling, Stuart Antell conceding just nine runs from six overs. But Shillingstone had no answer to opening bowlers Abel (2-23) and Rochford (5-15) and fell to 39-7 before skipper Harry Paulley (30) made the score somewhat respectable.

Shaftesbury 264-4 Broadstone 2nd 129 Shaftesbury (20pts) bt Broadstone (5) by 135 runs

Aled Williams (70) and Kevin Monaghan (73no) helped Shaftesbury to 178-1 before Sam Harris smashed three sixes in a score of 42. Despite a knock of 70no by Broadstone skipper Gary Smith, the visitors subsided as Kris Martin (3-35) and Harris (2-14) secured their second win of the season.

More than 1,000 children have signed up to play All Stars’ Cricket at clubs across Dorset. The England Cricket Board initiative is aimed at 5-8 year-olds and has been embraced by nearly half the 60 clubs in Dorset. There are also 420 taking part in Dynamos cricket, aimed at 8-11 year olds. James Mitchell, youth participation manager for Dorset Cricket Board, said: “It's fantastic that so many clubs buy into what All Stars is all about. “I'm particularly pleased we have a lot of new junior clubs starting up, thanks to All Stars primarily. “The community coach team headed by Rob Newton and Sean Fitzgerald have worked tirelessly in schools promoting All Stars and Dynamos and it's rewarding to see hard work pay off. “I think with lockdown parents have realised the importance of team sports. I hope to see a move away from individual sports as team sports are so beneficial to children's development and mental health.”

CRICKET FIXTURES Dorset Premier League

June 26 Sherborne v Wimborne July 3 Sherborne v Broadstone

Division One June 26 Hamworthy v Stalbridge Marnhull v Weymouth Compton H v Portland

July 3 Compton v Puddletown Marnhull v Hamworthy Swanage v Stalbridge

Division Two June 26 Wimborne 2 v Shaftesbury Broadstone 2 v Blandford Cerne V v Shillingstone

n Former Wincanton Town player Andy Holmes has joined Gillingham Town FC as a player/assistant manager. n Sherborne Town FC “urgently” need a reserve team manager for next season. n Shaftesbury FC anticipates its 3G football pitch will be ready, and available for hire, by midJuly. n Sturminster Newton United FC begin pre-season training on July 6 and say new players are welcome. The club is looking for preseason friendlies on July 24 and August 7. n Entries to join the Blackmore Vale Football League must be in by August 1. n Blandford United began pre-season training on Monday with new manager Andy Savage in charge.

BOSS: Andy Savage

RUGBY: Sherborne School is looking for a qualified sports coach to teach pupils aged 13-18 in major and other sports. n North Dorset RFC has confirmed its rugby 7s and 10s festival is taking place this year on July 23-25.

Six handicapper Colin Leach fought off a field of 90 rivals to defend his title as Senior Champion at Yeovil Golf Club. Colin returned scores of 79 and 77 in two rounds of scratch golf on the par-71 Old Course to regain the trophy ahead of Bruce Bailey, who won the championship in 2019. A parallel handicapped competition for the Nett Champion Trophy was won by Richard Polson, who plays off 12. His nett score of 141 was two shots ahead of Timothy Gilbert.

WINNER: Colin Leach

WINCANTON GOLF CLUB RESULTS

Camelot Shield May 29 1 Kevin Francis nett 66 2 Chris Chapman, 71 3 Ross Chandler, 72

Monthly Stableford Jun 6 1 Ian Chandler, 41. 2 Andrew Mainstone, 40 3 Richard Czemerda, 36

Seniors Stableford Jun 8 1 Alan Rogers 39. 2 Brian White 38. 3 Phil Francis 36

Captain’s Cup, Jun 12 1 Ian Chandler 41. 2 Jim Phillips 38. 3 Robert Ley 36 92

A little Welsh cob from Sturminster Newton has qualified for the prestigious British Dressage championship finals. Sammie, a 10-year-old Palomino, is owned by Barbie Hooper, a retired musician and dressage judge who bought the pony as an unbroken three-year-old gelding. His calm temperament saw Sammie being used as part of an equine therapy and healing group. And his calmness led to him showing well in competitions, including the Hickstead Masters and the British Dressage Associated Native Championships, where he finished third. Arthritis meant that Barbie had to give up riding Sammie, who is now trained and competed by tri-athlete Katie Edwards at Sturminster. And this year they decided that Sammie was ready for the flagship BD Winter Dressage Championships at Hartpury, Gloucestershire, the largest gathering of dressage combinations under one roof for all levels of competitor. He will compete in the Elementary Freestyle Silver Championship on July 2, which involves a walk, trot and canter to music in 4mins 45 secs. “It is the first time we have had a go at it,” says Barbie. “We felt he was now right. It is very different at these national events with flags and banners. Horses have to learn not to react to the noise – it’s about the temperament of the horse.” To qualify, Sammie had to record three scores of a standard at regular dressage events, then be in the first two at a regional qualifying event. “He was one of thousands that tried to get to the finals,” says a very proud Barbie. “His talent is remarkable and for a little Welsh cob, it is quite a coup.” Sammie has never worn shoes and competes barefoot. In the finals, he will be up against much bigger Dutch Warmbloods, the most common dressage breed. But his looks and temperament have attracted fans on Facebook and, said Barbie: “When he performs, the judges love him.” He will walk to The Stripper by David Rose (1958), trot to Keep Young and Beautiful (1934) and canter to Benny Goodman’s Sing, Sing, Sing (1936). Says Barbie: “We were midtable in qualifying results but different judges give different percentages. “We’re hoping for Top Ten but whatever happens, we’re going to have a ball.”

BAREFOOT IN THE RING: Sammie and rider Katie Edwards’