TRAVEL-weary Bournemouth all but secured the Dorset Sunday Division One title with a three-wicket win over Studland.

With one player stranded in Bank Holiday traffic at Corfe Castle and more battling their way through the crowds on the Sandbanks ferry, Bourne took to the field at Ferry Road with only seven players.

Slowly but surely, however, the missing men arrived, Simon Ridley's charges edging to their target with the nerves jangling after Studland had racked up 173-9 from their allocation in tricky conditions.

Tom Blackburn (26) started well for Bournemouth in reply, with Scott de Weymarn (16), younger brother of Bourne's Southern League skipper Craig, and Alex Kennedy (22) helping Ridley's side close in on victory.

But with wickets falling regularly, it was left to Joe Hall (34no) and Russell Hawkes (7no) to see Bourne home with three overs to spare. Wayne Lockey (3-30) was the pick of the Studland bowlers.

Earlier, Steve Trembath (53) and Steve Lawson (33) starred for Studland, with Ridley (5-42), Kennedy (2-43) and Rob Coombs (2-33) doing the damage with the ball.

Ridley said: "It was far from straightforward. It was right in the balance with about eight overs to go and we needed around four an over.

"Rusty (Hawkes) and Joey Hall, who have hardly batted at all this year, were at the crease and Joey played a superb innings.

"It was wet in areas, but that was no excuse for the scoring to be honest. Early on in our innings it swung around a little bit, but most of the wickets were down to loose shots."

Victory in their final clash of the season, at home to Marnhull on Sunday, should be enough to clinch the title for Ridley's men.

The captain added: "I think we need about eight points from the last game. It's been a great season and we've had a good mixture of youth and experience so it's been a good experience for the younger lads.

"I like to think the Sunday league is an opportunity for the young lads to prove themselves and maybe move towards getting into the top teams on a Saturday. There's been a really good team spirit this year."

ALL OVER FOR LACY

KINGSTON Lacy skipper Greg Parsons conceded the Division One title after a narrow defeat to Cranborne on Sunday.

Chasing a modest 165 to win at Pamphill Green, Lacy got off to a flyer - knocking off the first 100 for the loss of just two wickets.

But a spectacular batting collapse, coupled with some strong Cranborne bowling, saw Parsons's men fall just short of the their target on 142 all out.

"I wouldn't say it was a shock defeat as Cranborne are a strong side and they have got a good outfit there," said Parsons.

"But it's disappointing because we were hoping to push Bournemouth to the last game, but I think that is it now.

"I think we were about 116-2 at one stage so we lost the last eight wickets for about 20 runs. The guys at the top of the innings did really well, but it was the middle order and lower down that struggled.

"It was a pretty wet wicket and they batted quite well, but we just didn't have enough at the bottom of the order to finish it off."

EASY WIN FOR PARLEY

PARLEY notched the highest score of the day to see off Marnhull's challenge by 89 runs.

Sam Collins (138 from 151 balls) and Sam Thomson (91) laid the foundations for Parley's 262-3 before Robbie Gunn (3-38), Tom Blackley (2-30), Raj Naik (2-9) and 14-year-old Jack Rowett (2-23) shared the workload to dismiss Marnhull for 172 in reply.

  • In the day's other games, Old Blandfordians (111-4) beat Poole Town (110ao) by six wickets, while Henstridge (102-3) eased past Christchurch (101ao) by seven wickets.