Ridley delighted with Lawes swoop (From Bournemouth Echo)

Ridley delighted with Lawes swoop

7:00am Friday 3rd July 2009 in

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BOURNEMOUTH chief David Ridley is hoping the acquisition of Ben Lawes will provide a major boost as they bid for Southern Premier League glory.

In-form Bournemouth host Hampshire Academy at Chapel Gate tomorrow (11.30am), with the aim of closing the gap on leaders Havant spurring them on.

Despite their fine form, Craig de Weymarn’s men have struggled to impose themselves with the bat and only Simon Watkins features in the latest list of the division’s top-30 batsmen.

But Ridley, the club’s Southern League manager, wants to see that change following the signing of former Dorset and Weymouth star Lawes.

He told the Echo: “We always knew we probably had the strongest bowling attack in the league and that has proved to be the case – and our fielding is excellent. Our weakness has been our batting and only one of our batsmen is in the top 30 in the league rankings.

“We’re hopeful that Ben Lawes coming in will be the final piece of the jigsaw because, if we improve our batting, we stand a great chance of pushing Havant very hard.”

Bournemouth are enjoying a fine season, with their second XI going strong in Division Three. Ridley added: “Our second team is very young and, if we can get them promoted, we will have achieved everything we wished for.”

Bournemouth make three changes to the squad which defeated Alton last week.

Bowler David Payne, who claimed seven wickets in that success, is on England under-18 duty, while Scott Mills and Alex Kennedy also miss out. Lawes is joined in the 12-man squad by bowler Dave Kidner and opening batsman Martin Miller.

Bournemouth: (from) de Weymarn, N Park, C Ridley, J Park, Watkins, Metcalfe, Miller, House, Denham, Kidner, S Ridley, Lawes.