Premier Division

Dorchester Cricket Club claimed the 2021 Dorset Cricket Board Premier Division after a nail-biting end to the season. Shane Watson from sponsors The Dorset Funeral Plan presented the trophy that they retained after winning it in 2019 – pre-Covid. On the last Saturday of the season, without a game, Dorchester had to wait until on other matches before they knew they’d won. Runners-up Poole Town for the fifth time over the last six seasons were helped by bowler Joey Wormington, the division’s leading wicket taker. The DACO Fair Play Award in the Premier League went to Sherborne.

Division 1

Moving up to the Premier League after a number of successful seasons are Division 1 champions Puddletown. The team contained the division’s three leading wicket takers; Rob Snow, Ryan Norman and Adam Weir. Swanage took the runner-up spot. The DACO Fair Play Award went to Marnhull.

Division 2

Blandford who took the title in most competitive league with only 32 points separating third and tenth, Poole Town 2s took the runners-up spot.

Division 3

The only team to go unbeaten this season were Chalke Valley Division 3 winners. Runners-up were Charlton Down who possessed the division’s leading wicket taker in Matt Stevens.

Division 4 

Cattistock and Symene took the title with 13 wins. Runners-up were Bere Regis IIs.

Division 5 East & South

The youngsters of Winton 3s battled through the season to take the title with Dylan Lyons, Caitlin Chissell and Liam Crutchley all making more than 300 runs. Runners-up were Marnhull 2s who fought off a youthful Wimborne 4s for the spot.

Division 5 North & West

Bradford Abbas bounced straight back after relegation in 2019. Runners-up were Blandford IIs who suffered only two reverses.

Special Awards

Sherborne’s Josh Lawrence one Player of the Season with 727 runs at an average of 121.17.

The Under 18 performance of the season went to Wimborne’s Lewis Freak for his knock of 203no against Cattistock and Symene.

Groundsman of the year Colin Randall of Wimborne created a pitch that has led to the county side returning to Dorset to play their home games.

The Club of the Season award went to Chalke Valley for accumulating the highest points total in the leagues, winning the Dorset T20 cup and getting to the last eight in the national competition.

Nick Douch from Dorset’s Douch Family Funeral Directors, Dorset Funeral Plan said: “After last year’s interrupted season because of Covid it was great to get back to some proper cricket. It was reassuring to see so many youngsters coming through and doing well. Sponsoring the leagues for more than 15 years has given us a great profile and we’ve seen wonderful improvement in so many of the county’s grounds.”

John Ridout, chairman of Wimborne CC and treasurer of the league, said: “I must congratulate Dorchester on winning the Premier League – and on Poole for coming runners-up again. There were some great games this season and despite rain affecting games in May all the leagues were competitive. We now look ahead to 2022 and begin preparing for the next season.”