SKIPPER Kev Robbins admitted Blandford’s first victory of the season came as a “big relief”.

Last season’s Premier Division runners-up squeezed home by one wicket against reigning champions Dorchester at Blandford Recreation Ground.

Both clubs have endured a miserable start to the campaign – with Blandford’s narrow triumph the first win for either this season.

Richard Thomas (4-24) and Sunil Sawney (3-33) both profited as Blandford made the most of a bowler-friendly track after they had invited Dorchester to bat first.

“It was a vital toss to win,” conceded Robbins. “It was very breezy and the pitch was always going to dry out as the game progressed.”

Dorset all-rounder Dan Belt compiled a watchful 77 as the county town outfit eventually succumbed for 167.

“Dan batted very well and kept their innings together,” said Robbins. “Although we took wickets at regular intervals, we still thought 167 was quite a good score on that pitch.”

Alex White (57) was the mainstay of the Blandford reply, with 38 extras helping them open their account for the season with seven balls to spare – and one wicket in hand.

“We made hard work of getting them and Alex’s knock was vital,” added Robbins. “He kept his head while those around him lost theirs. We were 32 for three and 65 for five.

“Dorchester kept chipping away but we finally managed to cross the winning line and it was a big relief.

“We’ve bowled very well so far this season but our fielding hasn’t backed up the bowlers and we’ve made hard work of batting.

“We’ve restricted teams to what should have been manageable totals but have made heavy weather of trying to knock them off.

“Now we’ve got our first win under our belt up, hopefully we can kick on from here and start putting some results together.”

  • New Poole Town captain Jamie Thomas guided his side to a third successive victory before hailing his predecessor Dave Miller.

Miller, who handed over the reins following seven years, was instrumental as Poole dented Wimborne & Colehill’s unbeaten start with a 35-run success.

In tandem with opener Kristian Wilson, Miller helped steady the ship after Poole had lurched to an uneasy 30 for three.

Wilson (80) went on to carry his bat and shared in a crucial fourth-wicket stand of 136 with Miller (61) as Poole closed on 203 for six (Rob Hatchard 2-43, Ben Ratcliffe 2-46).

Coincid-entally, Wimborne & Colehill also slumped to 30 for three before Dave Guest (41), Ratcliffe (43) and James Miller (42) all made valuable contributions.

But with skipper Thomas (4-36) and Jon Fairless (4-45) continuing to chip away, Wimborne & Colehill fell well short at 168.

Thomas said: “Captaining the side has gone pretty well so far and it has helped me a lot having Dave Miller to call on.

“We’ve won our first three games and they have all been quite tight. We just want to carry on as we are and see where it takes us.”

  • Raj Naik starred with bat and ball as Parley recorded a convincing seven-wicket triumph over Wayfarers.

Despite losing wicketkeeper Viveka Sawh to a dislocated finger in the eighth over, a tidy bowling display saw Wayfarers dismissed for 157 (Naik 3-18, Roshan Embalagama 3-32, Sam Thomson 3-37).

Naik (60) then remained undefeated and dispatched a majestic six to steer Parley to victory with more than six overs to spare (Sam Collins 32).

  • Weymouth (151-9) registered a narrow one-wicket victory over Stalbridge (149), while Suttoners’s trip to Broadstone was rained off.