A NEWLY-discovered ruthless streak sees Broadstone sitting pretty at the top of the Dorset Saturday Premier Division after their 10-run success over Suttoners in their latest fixture.

The table-toppers turned in a fine team batting display, spearheaded by Matt Keech (88 not out), while Mark Eliot (78) made light of an eye-wateringly painful blow to register 78 and Sam Chapman's 50 posted a healthy 284-6 total.

Although Suttoners made a decent fist of the reply, Trevor Shales (3-36) and Gary Parsons kept the heat on the batsmen as Suttoners eventually fell to 274 all out.

Keech said: "We were second last season and we think we've got a really good chance this year.

"We've become that little bit tougher to play against. In the past, we've been renowned for being a nice team to play, but now when we get ourselves into good positions, we're driving home the initiative that bit more.

"It's looking quite good at the moment and we need to keep it going."

Broadstone's cause was given a shot in the arm as previously unbeaten Parley crumbled to a shock 148-run defeat at Wayfarers.

Despite losing both openers with just nine runs on the board, a brilliant hundred from Dubliner Chris Cahill (109) - which included 16 fours - and a quickfire knock from Steve Wilson (45) put Wayfarers on their way to 248 all out.

In reply, Parley were unusually lacklustre as Andy Gifford (34), who'd earlier taken 4-45 with the ball, was the only innings of note.

With the top order blown away by Robbie Stammas and Wilson (3-34), Parley's batting line-up were all back in the pavilion for a total of just 100.

Resurgent Blandford continued their return to form with a comprehensive seven-wicket success over Compton House, in which skipper Kev Robbins grabbed a hat-trick.

Having taken a wicket with the final delivery of an over, Robbins then struck again with his first two balls with his next over - but he admitted that the event had almost passed him by.

He said: "Because it was split over two overs, I only realised as the last minute that I was on a hat-trick.

"It was a nice personal landmark because I'd never got one at that level before, but the result was the most important thing.

"And considering I'd been hit for two sixes in the two previous deliveries, it was quite nice to come back like that!"

With Compton House all out for 146, Dan Brockway (56) and Alex White (52 not out) batted maturely to ease Blandford home with plenty to spare.

Adrian Skirrow made 63 not out after his big-money mid-season transfer from Wayfarers to Poole Town.

Skirrow decided he fancied a new challenge with Poole and after a crisp tenner exchanged hands between the clubs, the former Wayfarers skipper helped himself to a fifty on his debut as Poole eased to a seven-wicket win over Wimborne and Colehill.

He said: "It was a nice way to start and hopefully I can go and score a few more for Poole.

"There's no animosity between myself and Wayfarers - I still play for their Sunday side - but I wasn't enjoying it as much as last season, so thought it was time for a change."

Ed Steele (68) was Wimborne's top scorer in their 181-7, but Martin Ford (3-22) and Kristian Wilson (2-29) kept the run rate down, before Wilson (43) and Skirrow steered home Poole's reply with a 103-run partnership.

In the division's other clash, Weymouth's 281-6 was more than enough for victory as Sherborne were skittled for just 98 in reply.