WIMBORNE & Colehill skipper James Miller insists there is no panic in the camp after Saturday's defeat at the hands of Sherborne.

The Minstermen have started their Dorset Funeral Plan League title defence with a mixed bag of results and followed up last week's crushing victory over Martinstown by succumbing to an eight-wicket loss.

Miller's team fought gamely, having lost six wickets with fewer than 70 runs on the board, eventually posting a relatively competitive 183 for nine against a side whose win saw them close to within two points of Wimborne & Colehill in third spot.

The hosts made an early breakthrough in Sherborne's innings but it was to no avail, the away team cantering to their third Premier League success of the season.

Wimborne & Colehill have similarly won three and lost two of their opening five matches. They had the same record at this juncture last term but would lose only once more on their way to winning the championship.

Miller, who started the repair job against Sherborne with a gritty knock of 37, told the Daily Echo: "We were 50 runs short of par, but at least we gave ourselves something to bowl at, having looked like we'd be lucky to scrape to 100.

"It was good to see some fight from our tail.

"But their three and four batted excellently and we didn't bowl particularly well. There was a four ball every over and that made it very hard to create any pressure.

"They put away the bad balls. And when we were under the cosh in our innings, every bad ball seemed to hit a fielder.

"Everyone was disappointed. But we're in exactly the same position as we were last year and no one is panicking. It is only Swanage who have won all their games and we are 25 points behind them.

"It's not a huge gap – but we certainly can't afford many more slip ups."

Broadstone took advantage of Wimborne & Colehill's off day by clinching a thrilling triumph over Poole Town to leapfrog the Minstermen into second.

Poole made a brave fist of trying to defend their 158 total, but Broadstone survived a nervy chase to record a one-wicket victory.

It sets up an appetising second-versus-third clash when Wimborne & Colehill visit Broadstone on Saturday.

"The Delph is a funny place to go and Broadstone know how to play there," said Miller.

"It will be tough. Our top order haven't had a good week but, if they can get in, they can get good value for their shots there and play themselves into form."

Elsewhere, Shillingstone earned their first win of the campaign in explosive style. The bottom team racked up a mammoth 355 for five, enough to beat fellow strugglers Martinstown by virtue of a superior run rate when a halt was called with the visitors on 102 for one.

Sixth-placed Dorchester's well-measured chase saw them overhaul Shroton's 165 with seven wickets in hand.