Sport

By Stuart Wickham

stuart@westdorsetmag.co.uk Although some Bridport Town fans are looking forward to their season in the South West Peninsula League Premier League, under new management team of Edgar Marcu and his assistant James Lukosius, others seem less confident on the team’s chances. The Bees have largely performed well in friendly games, some of which have been against higher-ranked opposition, but concerns remain about the team’s ability to gel quickly enough while adapting to a new playing style. Marcu takes charge in his first competitive Bees’ match, away to Ivybridge as the season kicks off on Saturday, August 6. Back-to-back home matches against Honiton and Crediton quickly follow, with the opening games likely to prove a good barometer for the season ahead, following wholesale squad changes and the implementation of a new style. Marcu has retained some experienced players with Dan Baggs, Harley Brook, Adam Steele and Riley Greenwood-Neate all re-signing for the Bees. Centreback Ryan Gall has been restored to the first team, and has looked a solid presence in defence during pre-season. Steve Barrett has been a fan of the club for over five years and is the club’s unofficial photographer Steve is generally optimistic about the season, although is concerned at the time it may take for new players to bed into the team, and adapt to a new way of playing. Steve said: “I am looking forward to the new season, and have enjoyed watching the team in the friendlies. They played well against Weymouth. Although they lost 10-0, Weymouth are a professional team and we certainly competed well. They have had a couple of good wins against decent opposition and put up a good showing against Portland despite having several regular first-teamers unavailable. “I like Edgar’s enthusiasm for the challenge and his confidence – he says he’s there to win the league and seems determined to set the standards high. You can certainly see the change in style. Before, we would knock it long to a big man up front to try and flick it on or hold it up, but now everybody is trying to play proper football out from the back – tippy tappy football – and so far we haven’t been caught out much by it. “The thing that worries me and many of the other fans I’ve spoken to, is that we’ve had other new managers since Adam Fricker left. It always takes time for players to get used to each other and start playing as a team, and it remains to be seen if Edgar has had enough time to prepare his players properly. An example of this is where the Reserves beat the First Team early in pre-season –they were just a better unit, not necessarily better players. Much of my hope comes from the fact we are playing in a lower division, but I know that many fans are worried that it still might take us time to adjust. “I like the look of our defence and Ryan Gall has been excellent in the friendlies. He looks really assured alongside Dan Baggs, and hope they can form a really solid partnership. “As a fan, I think you have to be quietly optimistic, but the early league matches will certainly tell us a lot about how ready the team is.” If there is any uncertainty on the terraces, Marcu has no doubts about his team’s readiness. He said: “Our pre-season has been fantastic, we are more than ready for the new season. We started to play with the right shape against Radstock and I can see the quality that these players have. Many will go on to play at a higher level. The team is ready.”

TAKING CHARGE; Bees manager Edgar Marcu and, below, Ryan Gall and Dan Baggs Pictures; STEVE BARRETT

New season & new style for Bridport under boss Marcu

Bridport FC Opening Fixtures

South West Pensinsula League Premier Division East Saturday, August 6: Ivybridge A Tuesday, August 9: Honiton H Saturday, August 13: Crediton H Wednesday, August 17: Elmore A Saturday, August 20: Brixham A Tuesday, August 30: Cullompton H

HAPPIER TIMES: Wayne Jerome and his all-conquering Zebras team from last season Picture: MARK WOOLMINGTON Zebras in shock as Jerome leaves league’s champions

By Stuart Wickham

stuart@westdorsetmag.co.uk Sherborne Town fans have been rocked by the departure of manager Wayne Jerome, just two weeks before the start of the new season. Jerome led the team to the league title, culminating in a 21-match winning run. The announcement of Jerome’s departure was made via a club statement on Twitter, published on Wednesday, July 17. The exit follows the departure of long term assistant Neil Waddleton at the start of the close season, and although it has inevitably disrupted preparations for the Premier Division campaign, it is clear that there is plenty of mutual respect between Jerome and the club. Chairman John Bowers, took to Twitter to confirm Jerome’s place in Zebras’ folklore. Bowers tweeted: “For being the driving force behind last seasons success and giving me one of the best experiences of my life I will forever be grateful. “Once a Zebra always a Zebra.” Jerome, consistently reluctant to talk publicly, posted a statement to show his passion and affection for the club. He tweeted: “It’s been a privilege to be part of the history of Sherborne Town FC and I’d like to thank the following: Chairman John Bowers for believing in me five seasons ago when he offered me the job. “Thanks also to Sam Bowers, the man who is the heart and soul of this club. “To all the volunteers and committe members, you really are the club’s unsung heroes. “To my backroom staff: We’ve argued, we’ve fallen out, we’ve yelled at each other in the heat of the moment, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. “It’s just passion and pride for the love of the game. “And finally to you, the players. What a group of men you have become: Humble in victory, hardworking in training, given your all for each other. “It’s been a roller coaster of emotions and ups and downs, but we sacrificed everything and won the ultimate prize. Be proud Sherborne FC and thanks for the memories.” The club have advised that an interim management team are in place and have been approached for further comment.

KEEPER: Harry Dillon New faces for Magpies

Dorchester Town kick off their 2022/23 campaign at The Avenue, with the visit of North Leigh on Saturday, August 6. This is followed by a trip to Truro City a week later, before hosting Plymouth Parkway on Tuesday, August 16. The club have welcomed a number of new faces during the close season, including highly-rated goalkeeper Harry Dillon, while former U23 captain Jordi Foot returns to the club following a successful season at Shaftesbury. Brinley Doyle has earned a promotion to the first team squad. With a full season ahead and with the momentum gained from a successful scrap for survival, Glenn Howes will be hoping that his charges can avoid another relegation battle, and compete higher up the Southern Premier League table. The opening fixtures look like they could yield points for The Magpies, and the mood among fans is generally positive ahead of the new campaign.

Dorchester Town FC August Fixtures Southern Premier League 2022/23 Season

Saturday, August 6: North Leigh H Saturday, August 13: Truro City A Tuesday, August 16: Plymouth Parkway H Saturday, August 20: Beaconsfield Town A Saturday, August 27: Hartley Wintney H Monday, August 29: Yate Town A

Dorchester CC 1st XI 331/6 (50 Overs) Puddletown CC Saturday XI 153 (37.4 Overs) Dorchester CC 1st XI won by 178 runs - Dorchester CC 1st XI 20 points; Puddletown Saturday XI 5 points Dorchester opener Seb Carty scored a brilliant 150 to lay the foundation for a crushing win against Puddletown. Carty’s fluid innings came off 122 balls and included 19 fours. Batting first on a great batting strip at the Rec, the home side amassed a huge total, with Eral Anderson (79) and Carty putting on 175 for the third wicket. Puddletown lost both openers without scoring, with James Dunham and captain Dan Belt taking the scalps of Adam Barrett and Robert Snow respectively. Wicket-keeper Reagan Norman (39), helped the visitors recover, but his dismissal was one of three quick wickets which reduced Puddletown to 59-5, and effectively ended any prospect of a successful run chase, The Dorchester bowlers continued to chip away, with only Jordan King (33) offering sustained resistance. Jamie Barrett finished with 3-35, with two wickets apiece for Dunham, Rob Nobbs and Jack Owens, with Owens taking the wicket of James Morris to seal the win in the 38th over. Dorchester remain third in the Premier Division, 25 points behind leaders, Wimborne and Colehill.

Bere Regis CC 1st XI 105 (27.4 Overs) Sherborne CC 1st XI 106/7 (31.2 Overs) Sherborne CC 1st XI won by

TAKE THAT: Eral Anderson on his way to 79 for Dorchester

3 wickets - Sherborne CC 1st XI 18 points; Bere Regis CC 1st XI 4 points

Jake Ellsworth starred for Sherborne, his figures of 6 for 24 helping to bowl out the visitors inside 28 overs, in a low-scoring game at The Terraces. Andy Nurton took 2 for 10, with Jacob Kennard top-scoring for Bere Regis, who started the day fourth in the league. Had it not been for 46 extras, the hosts may have found themselves chasing a very modest total, however they still managed to overhaul the visitors’ total with time and wickets to spare. Opener Josh Lawrence top-scored with 38 to lay a solid platform, but regular wickets fell to keep the game in the balance. When Tom Harris fell to Sam Goodhew (3-20), the home side were 76-6, giving Bere Regis the chance of an unlikely victory. Captain Shane Pulling then produced a composed cameo of 22 not out to steer Sherborne to a three-wicket win. The win lifted Sherborne to fifth in the table, with Bere Regis remaining in fourth. Wimborne & Colehill CC 1st XI 319/3 (50 Overs) Martinstown CC 1st XI 64 (25.1 Overs) Wimborne & Colehill CC 1st XI won by 255 runs Wimborne CC 1st XI 20 points; Martinstown CC 1st XI 1 point

An under-strength Martinstown suffered a chastening defeat away to league leaders, Wimborne, being outgunned in all departments. Among the absentees were in-form Will Maltby, who scored 86 in the previous week’s defeat to Bere Regis, and experienced batter, Sam Kershaw. Only two of the visitors’ batsmen reached double figures, Lee House (11) and Ralph Daubeney (12), as Martinstown were bowled out inside 26 overs, with Joe Welch (3 for 23) spearheading an impressive Wimborne attack. Batting first, the hosts had found things much easier, with opener Ben Bridgen hitting a superb unbeaten century. Bridgen’s 144 not out included 20 fours, and excellent support came from Mark House, who made 71 from 61 balls, as the Martinstown bowlers struggled to take wickets or curtail the flow of runs. Martinstown remain in seventh place in the Premier Division, while Wimborne’s 12th consecutive win keeps them firmly at the top.

Poole CC 1st XI 238/6 (50 Overs) Cattistock & Symene CC 1st XI 230 (47.3 Overs) Poole CC 1st XI won by 8 runs – Poole CC 1st XI 20 points; Cattistock & Symene CC 1st XI 11 points Cattistock & Symene Firsts fell agonisingly short of pulling off an incredible run chase against high-flying Poole. In a tense finish, the home side were dismissed just eight runs shy of Poole’s total, with two and a half overs remaining in their innings. Cattistock & Symene’s openers, Wes Lewis (55) and Luke King (36), set them on their way. Steven Tucker’s fine 50 from just 60 balls then gave the hosts some important middle-order momentum. Tucker’s dismissal, and the re-introduction of Poole bowler Scott Bellamy, proved decisive however, with Bellamy’s three late wickets in his 4 for 56 instrumental in stopping the run chase in its tracks. Earlier, Ollie Legg produced a mean spell of bowling to help restrict the away team’s total, finishing with 2-17 from his 10 overs. Aryan Mehta top scored with 59 not out, with valuable contributions from Badrul Alam (47) and David Miller (51). Despite a haul of 11 points from the match, Cattistock & Symene remain bottom of the Premier Division with 87 points.

Division 2

Corfe Mullen CC 1st XI 139 (35.3 Overs) Beaminster CC 1st XI 140/7 (38.4 Overs) Beaminster CC 1st XI won by 3 wickets – Beaminster CC 1st XI 17 points; Corfe Mullen CC 1st XI 5 points

Lahiru Abeywickrama was the star man for Beaminster Firsts, as they won a tense, low-scoring game at home to

Corfe Mullen. Lahiru scored a precious 35 as Beaminster laboured towards their victory target, having earlier taken 2 for 12 to help restrict the visitors’ total. The home side had looked on course for a comfortable run chase having dismissed Corfe Mullen for just 139 inside 36 overs. Oliver Bareham’s 3 for 29 was the standout performance, with Ross Baker and Simon Jones also getting a pair of victims each. The visitors’ first change bowler Mark Hodges, had other ideas, dismissing Beaminster’s top four in a blistering spell and finishing with 4 for 23. When Adam Moss and Daniel Hillier also went cheaply, the game looked to be slipping away, before Lahiru’s composed innings swung the pendulum back to the home side. Simon Jones (13 not out) and Oliver Bareham (one not out) saw Beaminster home with over six overs remaining. The win gives Beaminster a share of the lead in Division 2 on 226 points, along with Chalke Valley 1st XI.

Beaminster CC 1st XI 314/3 (45 Overs) Dorchester CC 2nd XI 202 (44.2 Overs) Beaminster CC 1st XI won by 112 runs – Beaminster CC 1st XI 20 points; Dorchester CC 2nd XI 6 points

Beaminster made the most of winning the toss and electing to bat first on a flat wicket at the Rec, racking up a matchwinning score, as the Dorchester bowlers toiled in the searing 30 degree heat. Captain Jim Park immediately put the opening bowlers under pressure, scoring positively off the front and back foot, and raced to a fifty partnership inside seven overs, alongside Moss. Moss was dismissed for 20 off the bowling of Jamie Egan, but not before Beaminster’s openers had reached 77 from just 15

overs. Tom Fowler was elevated to number three, to try and reverse his recent poor form, but unfortunately Fowler misread a leg break from youngster Tom Kinsey (1-43) and found himself caught between two shots, missing the ball, and hearing the clatter of stumps behind him. This brought Ben Gollege to the middle who has looked like scoring some runs recently without converting many of his starts into big scores. Gollege struggled initially against the seam and leg spin combination working in tandem, while Park continued to smash his was to a half century. The pair added 46 for the third wicket, before a weary Park pulled a short ball into midwicket’s hands, falling just 15 short of a century, in an innings which included 15 fours. Ross Baker joined Gollege in the middle and the pair maintained the pressure on the home side, who were clearly struggling in the intense heat. Gollege, now well set, began to expand his stroke play guiding and bashing balls to all areas of the ground. Baker quickly got into his own stride, ensuring the Dorchester bowlers had no respite. The pair brought up 300 in the 43rd over - a feat not achieved by a Beaminster side in recent memory. Gollege ended with a fine 81 not out, which included 11 boundaries, and Baker a sublime 90 not out with 13 fours and one maximum. Beaminster completing their 45 overs with a mammoth 314-3. Nick Hollely made an early breakthrough in the third over, clean bowling former Dorchester first teamer Simon Joslin for a duck, although on a pitch favouring the batters, it became apparent the away team were going to have to apply themselves in all areas to take maximum points from the game. In the seventh over, Hollely bagged Dorchester captain Nick Joslin for nine, to reduce the hosts to 27 for 2. Wicket keeper batsman, Scott Peach, launched an impressive counter attack, smashing Hollely for five fours and a six inside three overs, which helped the home side recover to 81 in 13 overs. Peach put on 59 for the third wicket with Remy Wood, before Baker found the edge of his bat, and Gollege snaffled the chance at first slip. Daniel Hill came out to join Wood and the young pair handled everything that the Beaminster bowlers could throw at them as the wicket stayed true. Batting with a confidence that belied their years, it took an outstanding piece of fielding from Hollely at mid off to dismiss Wood. The number four batter nailed a forward defence off Lahiru and took on the field, only for Hollely to obliterate the stumps at the non-striker’s end, running out the in-form batter by the barest of margins. Wood and Hill had put on a fine 72 in just 14 overs. Young leg spinner, Henry Everitt, then had Hill caught by Park in the following over and, although it looked like Beaminster may be able to open up the tail, the Dorchester batsmen continued to bat with dogged determination. The home side had reached 160 -6 by the 30th over, when Lahiru Abeywickrama trapped Daniel Spears leg before, in a fine spell, bowling nine overs on the trot to return 127. Baker bowled Ned Cartwright for a duck in the 35th over finishing with figures of 1 for 50, and with youngsters Kinsey and Egan playing pace with relative ease, Park decided to take that pace off the ball in order to try and take the final two Dorchester wickets. His decision was rewarded by Everitt as he bowled Egan for 10 with just his second deliver, and the final home wicket fell in the last over as Kinsey spooned the ball to Park at short mid-off.

TOP FORM: Lahiru Abeywickrama starred in Beaminster CC's win against Corfe Mullen 1st XI

68 The West Dorset Magazine, July 29, 2022 Sport Stormin’ Norman fires Puddletown

Dorchester and District Evening Cricket League round-up By Robin Potter

Puddletown completed the first leg of their double by winning the Doug Read Cup with a comfortable victory over Hazelbury Bryan. Skipper Ryan Norman was the chief architect, winning the toss and putting Hazelbury in then taking four wickets to help restrict them to just 96 runs. Puddletown’s batters saw off this total with few alarms to give them the trophy by six wickets. Puddletown’s quest for the league title now goes to their final game against the only side that can catch them when they meet St George’s on August 1. Cattistock & Symene guaranteed themselves top spot in Division II by beating both Plush and Puddletown Reserves. Against Plush it was Luke King with 75* and Steven Tucker 76 that gave then an eight-wicket win, while against Puddletown, Wes Lewis with 119* at a strike rate of 224 set up the win, Luke Robertson sealing it with 3 wickets in 7 balls. Abbotsbury pulled off a rare win in their final game against Cerne Valley, Neil Walton’s splendid 81*giving them a six-wicket victory in a bid to stave off relegation. Cerne fared better against Plush with an eight-wicket victory, Plush themselves rebounding with a victory over Dewlish. The game between the top two sides in Division III went the way of Frampton when their openers John Horford 82 and Janes Butler 71 set up a good total and Chas Duerdoth’s 3 for 12 cemented the win. Frampton now have two games left to try and catch Bere at the top. Mention must be made of an excellent match between Dorchester Colts and New Look/ASM. Paul Chatterton’s 55 seemed to have set up New Look well until Billy Baker’s 4 -16 at the end of the innings kept them to 155. Colts then struggled against Mo Sheraz who took 4 for 21. Billy then came to the rescue with a rapid 79 but it still needed Nick Joslin to hit the only two balls he faced to the boundary, giving Colts the win with only one ball to spare.

FOUR WICKETS: Puddletown skipper Ryan Norman

Dorchester and District Evening League Division I P W L Pts Puddletown 7 7 0 14 St George’s 5 4 1 8 Charlton Down 8 2 6 4 Martinstown 6 2 4 4 Hazel. Bryan 6 1 5 2

Division II Catt & Symene 9 8 1 16 Plush 9 6 3 12 Dewlish 9 5 4 10 Cerne Valley 10 5 5 10 Puddletown 2 9 2 7 4 Abbotsbury 10 2 8 4

Division III Bere Regis 11 8 3 16 Frampton 10 7 3 14 New Look/ASM 11 6 5 12 Puddletown III 11 6 5 12 Charlton Down II 12 4 7 9 Dorc Colts 11 4 7 8 Puddletown RFC 10 2 7 5

Lyme Bowls Club Round-up

By Paul Moffitt The championship side were resting this week whilst the second team played Bridport away. The ladies lost on both rinks at home to Dorchester 'A' in the Dorset League. The men played Dorchester in the semi-final of the Top Club competition and did well to secure wins in two disciplines against arguably the strongest team in Dorset. In the friendlies, Lyme had a good win against Paignton at home but lost away to Severalls. Results: Men's Top Club: Lyme 2, Dorchester 3. 2 Wood Singles Carl Stephens lost 8-18 4 Wood Singles Paul Pomeroy lost 9-21 Pairs Simon Dowling & Charlie Barber won 16-14 Triples Ron Hunt, Alan Nabarro & Steve Pomeroy lost 3-27 Fours Trevor Allman, Richard Cridge, Allan Weech & Barry Rattenbury won 1814. Friendly: Lyme 107 Paignton 80 J Moon/B Moon, P Stephens & J Moseley 2016 A Hopkins, N Stephens & R Hunt 16-15 P Moseley, E Sarsons & A Preece 14-14 P Stoke-Faires, A Nabarro & J Maslen 24-11 J Enticott, S White & A Weech 19-8 M Haseman, N Benson & A Darvill 14-16 The league teams will now be rested for two weeks because Poole & Bournemouth have their tournament weeks.