BOURNEMOUTH skipper Simon Ridley is aiming to ensure complacency doesn't get in the way of his team's title push.

Ridley's men are in pole position to claim the Dorset Sunday Division One crown after hammering Old Blandfordians to leapfrog reigning champions Kingston Lacy at the top of the table.

It promises to be a dramatic finale to the campaign and, despite facing lowly sides Studland and Marnhull in the closing two weeks, 20-year-old Ridley is refusing to get ahead of himself.

He said: "We've been guilty during the season of being slightly complacent, but hopefully we've learned from that.

"The lead changes every week between us and Lacy, so we're not taking anything for granted until the end of the season."

Bournemouth moved to the summit, just .12 average points ahead of second-placed Lacy, in thumping fashion against Old Blandfordians at the weekend.

Batting first, the hosts lost two early wickets, but Dean Pearce (43) and 15-year-old Jake Hurley (35) shared a partnership of 82 off just 16 overs to get the innings going.

The middle order of Alex Kennedy (22), Jonny Coombs (41 not out) and Ridley (44) did a fine job and, with extras providing 46 more runs, Bournemouth totalled 265 for six off their 45 overs.

In reply, Gareth Vincent (41) helped Blandfordians make a solid start.

But wickets fell quickly after that and, with Ridley (4-32) and Rob Coombs (4-8) in fine form, Bournemouth cruised to victory.

Despite the 150-run winning margin, Ridley, who is in his first season as skipper, felt OBs had pushed his team closer than the result suggests.

"It was one of those games where, looking at it, you think you've got to get a win out of it," he told the Daily Echo.

"They made us work for it even though the score doesn't reflect that."

Ridley was pleased with his personal contribution.

He said: "I was fortunate enough to be able to try to tee off because we had the foundations.

"I got some runs and it was nice to get some wickets."

LACY SLIP AWAY

KINGSTON Lacy slipped off the summit after failing to secure maximum points in their five-wicket win at Christchurch.

Having elected to bat first, Church got off to a poor start and were soon struggling on 22 for three.

Skipper Tom Hughes and James Hook dug in and built a solid partnership of 148 for the fourth wicket.

Hook eventually fell for 80 and Hughes (91) also failed to reach three figures, although the team's middle order helped them total 215 for seven (Mark House 3-51).

But Lacy kept their championship hopes alive by reaching the target with eight balls remaining.

James Park (61) and Andy Hayward (71) shared 115 for the first wicket before Ashley Collison (30 not out) guided his team home.

IMPRESSIVE PLAYERS

PARLEY had some impressive individual contributors in their comfortable 79-run success over Studland.

They reached 211 for nine off 45 overs with Sam Collins making a steady 36, Raj Naik (34) and Roshan Gedera firing an entertaining 63 off 50 balls, including a huge six over the clubhouse.

In reply, Studland never got close and managed just 132, with Collins following his good work with the bat by taking five for 19.

Gedera claimed two for 20 and took two catches to complete a fine effort.

  • In the weekend's other matches, Cranborne (179) defeated Marnhull (113) by 66 runs and third-placed Henstridge (154-6) beat Poole Town (152) by four wickets.