Sport

Blandford win promotion to Div 1

Dorset Cricket League, Division Two, August 28

Blandford 223-4 Broadstone 157 Blandford (20pts) bt Broadstone (6) by 66 runs

A brilliant 92 not out from skipper Luke Carter set the scene for a solid victory over Broadstone and promotion for Blandford to the second tier of Dorset cricket. With three wickets down, Christian Watts joined Carter at the crease and the pair put on 108 before Watts was out for 41 on the last ball of Blandford’s 40 overs. In response, Broadstone lost wickets at regular intervals as tight bowling from Ryan White and Robert Harding kept runs to a minimum. Andy Lawrence (3-30) and Aaron Day (2-19) picked up wickets as Broadstone subsided to 111-9 before the tail wagged a little. Blandford had lost just three games of 18 all season and finished 18 points ahead of Poole Town 2nds. Shillingstone ended the season fourth in Div Two, and Shaftesbury seventh. Blandford will now join Compton House, Marnhull and Stalbridge in Dorset’s Division One next season.

Buckhorn Ladies become Dorset softball champions

Pictured are Buckhorn Weston Blues, who beat Marnhull in the final of the Dorset Softball Cricket League Finals last Sunday. The two topped the North and West Dorset league to win through to Finals Day, along with Bournemouth and Broadstone of the S&E League. The competition attracted 17 teams from across the county. Buckhorn beat Bournemouth, and Marnhull overcame Broadstone to set up the final which Buckhorn won and avenged their only defeat in the league matches, to Marnhull.

Sherborne’s season runs out of promise

Dorset Premier League August 28 Wimborne 182-3 Sherborne 181 Wimborne (20pts) bt Sherborne (5) by seven wickets two games to finish midtable, one place ahead of Wimborne. Sherborne batted first and reached 98-1, with Craig Jones making 52 including three sixes. But once he was out the bowlers took over, with Tom Harris the only other batsman to top 20. Sam Prince took 3-23 for Wimborne as Sherborne were all out with a ball to spare. In reply, two wickets fell cheaply before James Miller (71no) guided Wimborne to victory within 37 overs, backed up by Tom Butcher (44) and Mark House (40no). Sherborne gave eight bowlers a turn.

North Petherton thrash Yeovil to win Somerset Premier League

Somerset Premier League August 28

North Petherton 200-3 Yeovil 197-8 North Petherton (33pts) bt Yeovil (12) by seven wickets

The top two teams in Somerset’s Premier League met in a title decider with North Petherton ruthlessly putting Yeovil to the sword. Put into bat, Yeovil opener Ben Ford scored 82, with contributions from Calum Gundry (30), Dan Ewens (34) and Jack Veale (26). But tight bowling and fielding never allowed Yeovil to post a big score off their 45 overs. The pick of the bowlers were Lewis Knight (2-29) and Liam Winter (1-23), both off nine overs. In reply, Petherton lost opener Adam Burns for one but Tom Lott (57) and Winter (65) put on a century partnership to put their team firmly on course, aided by some wayward bowling – Yeovil conceded 36 extras, including 23 wides. Petherton won with 11.5 overs to spare to win the title with just one defeat all season, and adding to their T20 Somerset Intermediate Cup victory earlier in the season

n Wincanton CC won Somerset’s Division 7 Green title, while Kilmington and Stourton’s 2nd XI won the Div 7 Blue title.

80 New Blackmore Vale, September 3, 2021 Sport Zebras lose after match abandoned

Toolstation Western League Div 1, August 30

Radstock Town 3 Sherborne 2

The Zebras lost their unbeaten record this season on Bank Holiday Monday. Goals from Aaron White and Alex Murphy were not enough to build on four wins and a draw in which Sherborne had scored 21 goals. It was tough on the team, as two days earlier, their game against Tytherington Rocks was abandoned with Sherborne 2-0 up. A serious knee injury to Rocks’ player Tom Rummels the reason. He was taken to Yeovil Hospital where he was treated and was able to thank all those who helped on the day.

Devizes Town Gillingham 1 2

Gillingham continued to turn their season around with their third unbeaten game in a row. From bottom of the table three weeks ago, The Gills now have eight points from seven matches. Monday’s 2-1 win at Devizes followed Gillingham’s first win of the season, a 3-1 against Radstock, with goals from Elliot Bevis, Tom Bevan and Aaron Rodriguez. Previously The Gills played a goalless draw at league leaders Welton, who have won all their other games this season.

Hard cheese for Wincanton as Cheddar win on penalty

ON THE LINE: A disputed injury time penalty save denies Town a late point in thriller

Toolstation Western League Div 1, August 28

Cheddar 3 Wincanton Town 2

Goals from Tom Richardson and Harry Turner twice brought Wincanton level in a close fought battle against second-placed Cheddar. The home side then got their noses in front for a third time after 82 minutes, only for Wincanton to win a penalty deep into injury time – which was saved. An upset response from Wincanton’s Twitter feed said: “What hurts is we were denied a 95th minute equaliser as the referee and assistant were both 100% certain the ball had not gone over the line.” A photo of the incident was posted but penalty taker Dan Wise played it down with a tongue-in-cheek response. “It was a poor penalty and I should have buried it! “Keeper has done what I’d want any keeper to do and got his team a W (win) – not his fault Lino missed it so fair play to him!” The result was frustrating for a Wincanton team that finally got its season going the previous weekend with a 9-1 thrashing of 10-man Devizes. Cam Allen scored a hat-trick and there were braces for Matt Garner and Wise. The Cheddar Twitter feed was generous in victory. “A hard-fought win against a Wincanton side showing their early season form was just a dip.” Town have now taken four points from five games, having had three matches postponed.

Unbeaten Cherries on top

Rockies ride high into Cup challenge

Dorset Premier, Aug 28 Sturminster Newton 3 Hamworthy Reserves 0

The Cherries continued an impressive start to the season, maintaining an unbeaten run and staying second in the table. Nicholas Thomson added two to make him the league’s leading scorer, with eight in five games. Neil Sweatman got the third. The previous Saturday, Stur beat Poole Borough 6-1, with Thomson claiming a hattrick. William Guppy, Josh Mead and sub Ben Cowley also scored.

n Unbeaten Blandford United have been hit with a “non-fulfilment of a fixture” charge after failing to raise a team for their away game to Merley Cobham Sports last Saturday. Shaftesbury go into tomorrow’s FA Cup Qualifier at Highworth Town unbeaten after six league and cup games. But The Rockies will be disappointed to draw 2-2 last Saturday against an AFC Stoneham side they thrashed 6-1 in the Cup a week earlier. Ash Pope put Town 2-0 up but Duane Martins then scored a brace of his own.

Football now a core sport at Bryanston

Bryanston school near Blandford has made football a core sport for boys, while reporting a surge of interest among girl pupils. The move has been taken on the back of six football courses held at the school this summer, at which more than 40 local children took part. The sport’s increasing popularity has now encouraged Bryanston to make football a core sport alongside rugby, hockey, netball, cricket, rowing and equestrian. Football has long been played as a secondary sport at the school but its elevation means it becomes part of the of the Performance Sport Programme with a professional coaching team. “Football has always proved popular as a secondary sport. Elevating it to become a core sport is a significant step for us. The feedback from pupils and parents has been extremely positive,” said director of sport Alex Fermor-Dunman. The school says that in recent years, there has been growing interest in football among girls. Senior girls can choose football as their secondary sport in the spring term.

FOOTBALL FIXTURES

Sep 4 FA Cup qual 1st round Highworth v Shaftesbury

Toolstation Western League Div 1 AEK Boco v Sherborne Bishops Lyd v Wincanton Gillingham v Longwell Green ZAK’S MY BOY: Wincanton racer has a podium at Grasstrack Junior Championships

A podium visit for Zak, 13

Boy Racer Zak Batey from Wincanton won a place on the podium after finishing third in the British Grasstrack Junior Championship in Kent. Zak, 13, previously finished fifth in the championships and improved his standing in a very strong group against 16 other competitors. He started grasstrack racing at the age of six. His Grandad also rode and Zak followed in his footsteps with the racing number of 48. Grasstrack is very similar to speedway but held in a field: there are up to 12 riders in each race. Each race is four laps. Generally, the scoring is based on points, and the highest scorer wins or goes through to a play-off final. The season runs from March until October with meetings taking place all over the country and Zak rides in the junior class for riders aged 9-13, with a 150cc bike. There are no brakes. His mother Carly said: “He has won many championships over his time in the sport and was chosen as most improved rider in 2018.” Next season Zak will move up to the intermediate class where he will use a 250cc engine. “He is very lucky to have some sponsors as this sport is not cheap!” said Carly. When Zak is not racing ,he enjoys mountain biking and plays football for Milborne Port under 13s.

Dorset Premier League Sturminster Newton Utd v Sherborne Reserves

Dorset Premier League Cup Bournemouth Sports v Blandford United Western League Div 1 Sherborne v Verwood Bradford Town v Wincanton Bristol Telephone v Gillingham Sep 11 FA Vase qual 1st round Millbrook v Shaftesbury

Sep 14 Western League Div 1 Gillingham v Wells City