BEAMINSTER Cricket Club are set to get their Dorset County Division Three season underway on Saturday when they face a trip to Poole Town Thirds (1.30).

The West Dorset side faced an inconsistent campaign last year, but captain Ross Baker is feeling positive.

He said: “We’re all raring to go.

“It’s always difficult to get rid of that winter rustiness in the first game.The conditions can be quite challenging early on in the season so it’s a case of us adapting and doing our best.

“Poole are a side we’ve done quite well against in recent years. We’re hoping to get off to a positive start and have had two good wins there in the last two years, so hopefully we can get another victory.”

Baker also says that his side are better-equipped this time round for a successful campaign.

“We’ve got a good balance in our side this year. We’ve got some good youngsters who are now a year older and they’re keen to get involved.

“We’ve also got players who haven’t played in a few years who are keen to prove themselves, and we have experience as well so we’re hoping to get more consistency in our playing squad.

“Chris Park is an opening batsman and a quality player. We also have Rich Runyard and Lewis Keenan who looked in good form over the winter, so we have plenty of good players who should contribute to the team.”

Baker confirmed that Beaminster will be without Rich Runyard, Simon Jones and Adam Herring.

n Uplyme & Lyme Regis get their Devon League, C Division (East) campaign underway away at Cullompton, while Symene take on Winton on Dorset County Division Six.