Sport

62 The West Dorset Magazine, July 1, 2022 Sport Working together as a team, bonding

Bridport FC manager Edgar Marcu has been talking to the West Dorset Magazine, about his passion for football and his hopes for the 2022/23 season.

By Stuart Wickham

sport@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Having arrived in the UK from his native Romania in 2017 with just £20 to his name, Edgar is excited about the latest chapter in his football career, and is looking forward to bringing good times back to St Mary’s Field. Edgar’s first aim is to ‘build a family’. Edgar said: “This is the most important thing for me, that we are like a family. “I have already built a nice relationship with the club and the players, but I want this to continue. We have all been involved with painting the stands and sorting out the goal nets. “We played a practice match yesterday involving the first team and reserves, as I wanted to test players in different positions to understand their strengths and versatility. “Afterwards, I texted many of the players, just to check they’re okay and find out how they’re feeling about things. “It’s a hard job but we have to get these things right. “Building a family is the key. I achieved this with Paulton Rovers and they were so sorry to see me go because we were such a tight unit.” Following last year’s relegation campaign, the Bees are looking to bounce back, and the manager has targeted a return to the Western Premier League at

the first time of asking. Edgar said: “We have to be optimistic about promotion next season. “It will be hard work –very hard – but we have some confidence in the squad and it’s my job to get the best out of them as individuals. “There are a lot of good teams in the division so it won’t be an easy job, but

we have to believe in ourselves as a team and be positive.” Edgar worked in tandem with outgoing manager Shaun Annets for the final eight matches of last season. Talking of his progress so far, Edgar said: “I am pleased, but not pleased. “We have brought in some good players and I have started to build a good team. Being 100% pleased in football is not possible though, we will always have things to learn. Even top teams like Manchester City and Liverpool are constantly learning and looking to improve, so football managers are never totally satisfied!” Although Edgar understandably did not want to dwell on last season, he was quick to pay tribute to his predecessor.

MEET THE NEW BOSS: Bees manager Edgar Marcu on the St Mary’s touchline Pictures: STEPHEN BARRETT

n Bridport will be competing in the South West Peninsula League East in the 2022/23 season. The Bees’ league campaign kicks off on Saturday, August 6 with a trip to Ivybridge Town, followed by back-to-back home matches against Honiton (August 9) and Crediton United (August 13). The team have six friendly matches throughout July, with the possibility of a seventh being arranged against Weymouth. Please check website for details.

The West Dorset Magazine, July 1, 2022 63 Sport as a family: Edgar’s vision for Bees

MAKING A POINT: Edgar Marcu takes charge of a practice match at Bridport “Shaun took over the running of the team at a very difficult time, and he was 100% committed to doing the best he could with the group of players he had. “I take my hat off to him for the job he did.” Commercial success in his native Romania has helped to shape Edgar’s management skills. “I learned a lot from my background. I worked for T Mobile in Romania and was really successful. “I used to sell door-to-door which was hard work and I became a top seller for T Mobile, before moving into management. “I learned so much about how to lead people and help them to be good performers. I went on many courses and have transferred my skills from a telecoms provider in Romania to a football pitch in Dorset. Although it is different, it is important to focus on the same things as a manager.” He has learned from mistakes too, and is refreshingly honest. Edgar was banned from driving in 2018, lost his job as a result, and struggled to find work. Edgar sees this as a turning point and takes up the story. “I woke up one morning in 2018 and spent £180 on a Level 1 coaching course. I didn’t have much money at the time, just £15-£20 each week to live on from my savings. “Nobody wanted to give me a job, but then I found work in a warehouse. “When I was travelling to Chapel-en-le-Frith on the train, and when I was moving boxes around the warehouse, I would listen to the Champions League anthem. It inspired me and I now feel that I am on the right pathway with my football management career. “You have to believe in everything you do. I believe that you have to learn from your mistakes too.” Edgar will shortly be embarking on his UEFA B Licence course at Dragon Park, having been one of 200 applicants accepted from a pool of over 1,300. Edgar said: “I wrote them an open letter, saying that they have to accept me or they will miss out on a very good coach. I am very lucky to have the opportunity. “Many of my friends have tried to get on the course and have not been successful. “I am looking forward to working with current and former professional footballers, and think I will learn so much.” Edgar touches on his approach to helping his players to improve. “It is like learning to drive and making the change from conscious to sub-conscious competence. “At the moment, most of the players are thinking about every move they make on the pitch, but eventually it will become second nature to them. “That is what I am aiming to achieve. We have to work on many aspects of their game, when we are in possession, out of possession or in transition – there are different skills to be learned. “We learn about high press, mid-block, how to play out of defence, how to regain possession, low defending, emergency defending, everything. “As individuals, the players need to improve their skills in all areas until they can do it without thinking, and we must learn together as a team.”

Dorset Cricket League Premier Division

Sherborne CC 1st XI 202/8 (50 Overs) Christchurch CC 1st XI 200 All Out (37 Overs) Sherborne CC won by 2 runs – Sherborne CC 1t XI 19 points; Christchurch CC 1st XI 11 points Sherborne Firsts held their nerve to win a thriller against evenly-matched opponents, Christchurch, dismissing the hosts just two runs shy of their total. With one wicket remaining and just three runs required, Emlyn Kuhn pinned number 10, Jamie Squire, in front, to complete a remarkable end to a see-saw contest. with plenty of overs remaining in the game. Batting first, Sherborne posted a competitive total, with opener Ryan Monk top-scoring with 44, before being dismissed courtesy of a sensational onehanded catch on the square leg boundary. Sherborne’s middle order kept the score ticking along, with good contributions from Emlyn Kuhn (25) and Tim Durston (32), before some late hitting from Tom Harris (31 not out) helped his side to a respectable total of 202. Following a rain delay at tea, the Sherborne bowlers reduced the hosts to 12 for 4, with Tim Durston, who finished with figures of 3 for 29, the main protagonist. The momentum then shifted back to Christchurch as Liam Bowater smashed his way to a blistering 90 off of just 51 balls. A key moment came with the score on 146, Joe Stratford taking a fine catch in the deep off Durston’s bowling, to deny Bowater the chance of a century and gave Sherborne a chance of a win. More clean hitting moved the hosts on to 193 for 6, before Freddie Harden produced a match-winning spell of 3 for 13, keeping an impeccable line and length to an attacking field, which included the key wicket of Christchurch captain, Craig Campbell. It was then left to Kuhn to seal the win for Sherborne at the end of an absorbing contest.

n Sherborne Cricket Club’s Ryan Monk and Joe Stratford both made important contributions in their win against Christchurch 1st XI. The pair are pictured after their record-breaking opening partnership against Hamworthy earlier in the season. Picture: SHERBORNE CRICKET CLUB

Bere Regis CC 1st XI 117/2 (17.2 Overs) Bere Regis CC won by 8 wickets – Bere Regis CC 1st XI 20 points; Puddletown CC Saturday XI 2 points Pete Russell was the star man as Bere Regis consolidated fourth place in the Premier Division with an emphatic win against Puddletown. Russell turned in a strong all-round performance, scoring a breezy, unbeaten 58 off just 63 balls as the hosts rattled off the required runs in just the eighteenth over. Earlier, Russelll had taken 3 for 26 to help dismiss Puddletown for 115, with Dean Rogerson bagging 4 for 15. Only four of Puddletown’s batters crept into double figures, as they continued to find life tough in the top tier. The result never looked in any doubt, with Cameron Robertson weighing in with 33 not out to see Bere Regis home in time to enjoy an early tea.

Cattistock & Symene CC 1st XI 130 (36.4 Overs) Dorchester CC 1st XI 131/4 (29.3 Overs) Dorchester CC won by 6 wickets – Dorchester CC 1st XI 20 points; Cattistock & Symene CC 1st XI 4 points Dorchester Firsts stayed in contention with leaders, Wimborne & Colehill, with their seventh win of the season away to Cattistock & Symene 1st XI. Electing to bat first having won the toss, the hosts total never looked like troubling their high-flying visitors, with Dan Belt’s 4 for 49 and Rob Nobbs’ 3 for 32 helping to chisel them out for 130 within 37 overs. Only Luke King, who scored 35, and Oliver Nicolas, 22, put up notable resistance in the face of another strong Dorchester bowling performance. Opening batsman, Jim Ryall, led the reply, topscoring with 41, and sharing in an opening stand of 60 for the first wicket. Useful contributions came from Michael Peak, with 26, and Eral Anderson, who’s 28 not out helped to see the visitors home with over 20 overs to spare. The win keeps Dorchester in second place, just seven points adrift of Wimborne at the summit.

Division Two

Beaminster CC 1st XI 252-6 (45 overs) Charlton Down CC Saturday 1st XI 257-5 (44.3 overs) Charlton Down CC Saturday 1st XI won by 5 wickets – Charlton Down CC 19 points; Beaminster CC 9 points

Top-of-the-table Beaminster lost out to local rivals Charlton Down, in a high-scoring contest. With the threat of rain in late afternoon, captain Chris Parks lost the toss and Beaminster were invited to bat on a slow pitch. Openers Park and Will Moss adopted a cautious approach initially, before Park decided to commit to attack to make a quickfire 28, before falling to James Pretty’s caught and bowled at the second attempt. Inform Ross Baker joined Moss in the middle, and quickly got to grips with the wicket, striking some lusty blows early on. At the other end, Moss upped his tempo, with the pair adding 93 before history repeated itself with Moss also falling to Pretty for 28. Tom Fowler was dismissed by Nitin Joshi, to leave the visitors at 107-3 with 18 overs remaining. Baker added further boundaries and reached his half century with a fine flick off his hips that raced to the rope, but was then caught behind off the bowling of Kieran Heath for 59 including 9 fours. At 150-5 and still some way short of a par score, Ben Golledge joined Moss

HAVE IT: In-form Adam Moss scored 84 not out for Beaminster 1st XI against Charlton Down Picture: BEAMINSTER CRICKET CLUB

Down on the up as Beaminster are beaten in thriller

in the 35th over as the Charlton Down bowling options became more limited. The pair added 91, with Moss plundering 84 not out, including two huge sixes. James Edmunds came in at the death and heaved a six over the boundary as he helped Adam Moss bring the Beaminster innings to a close on 252 for 6, with the weather starting to look ominous. Charlton Down’s reply was interrupted by some heavy thunderstorms, and the Beaminster bowlers struggled to find consistency with their line and length, with Joshi’s unorthodox style proving particularly tricky. After an early breakthrough, Joshi and Roger Frapwell took the score to 52 for 1 after just seven overs. Park shuffled his pack to try and counter Joshi’s maverick style, but the runs kept flowing and the hosts brought up their 100 inside 18 overs. Golledge (1-20) eventually broke the partnership of 138 as he had Frapwell finely caught in the deep by Will Moss for 39. This brought Nick Voss to the crease who continued to take the attack to the visiting bowlers. Joshi completed a fine century, before finally being dismissed by Ollie Bareham for a scintillating innings of 116 which include 17 fours and two sixes. The game became stopstart with a number of rain delays, with Voss and Simon Dunford amassing 37 runs before being dismissed by Lahiru. This left Charlton Down requiring 16 runs from 17 balls, and when Moss brilliantly ran out Dan Stevens, it looked as if Beaminster may have a chance to edge another close encounter. But it was left to Voss to see the hosts home, striking the winning runs with just three balls to go, to finish on 71 not out.

n Dan Steadman, Roy Burnett and Joe Wahnon take the spoils for the Open triples

n Ladies' singles champion Sally Batt n The Open Pairs title goes to Steve Pomeroy and Carl Stephens

n Men’s singles winner Simon Doig Pictures: LYME REGIS BOWLS CLUB

Quality bowlers for club’s tournament

Lyme Regis’ mayor Michaela Ellis delivered the first wood at Lyme Bowls Club as it hosted its 64th Open Tournament. The official opening of the week-long tournament signalled the start of some high quality bowling, bathed in beautiful sunshine. The popular event, a highlight in the local bowling calendar, attracted players from across West Dorset to compete in four categories across six days of fierce competition. Simon Doig emerged triumphant in the mens’ singles category, with Sally Batt scooping the individual ladies’ title. The trophy for the open pairs went to Carl Stephens and Steve Pomeroy. Open triple winners were Joe Wahon, Roy Burnett and Dan Steadman. The tournament was run by club secretary Sue Rowe, ably assisted by Lesley Broom. The club would also like to thank greenkeepers, Barry Rattenbury and Steve Pomeroy, for producing superb conditions for bowling, and catering officer Avril Sherring and her helpers who kept everyone fed throughout the six days. Special thanks also go to bar manager Barry Rattenbury, who with his staff kept the thirsty players and supporters well-watered.