DORCHESTER have been handed a severe test at home to reigning champions Wimborne & Colehill in their opening fixture of the 2019 Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League season.
James Dunham’s Dorchester will be aiming to build upon an excellent 2018 campaign that saw the county town side finish third as the Minstermen edged to the 2018 title by just three points from Poole Town.
But the Rec outfit could not have been handed a more difficult start against a side that did the double over them in the previous campaign.
Meanwhile, Bere Regis kick-off their Premier League season at home to Stalbridge, and Martinstown face a tricky assignment away to Poole Town.
Newly-promoted Christchurch will host Sherborne as the East Dorset side look to consolidate their place in the division.
Bere host Dorchester on Saturday, June 8 in the first derby of the campaign before Martinstown entertain Dorchester on Saturday, June 29 – the halfway point of the season.
In County Division One, Portland Red Triangle visit old adversaries Compton House in their opening fixture, while newly-promoted Weymouth host last year’s runners-up Hamworthy Recreation.
County Division Two champions Marnhull visit Cerne Valley, while relegated Swanage entertain Shillingstone.
All eyes will be on the first derby of the year when Weymouth clash with Portland on Saturday, June 1 – albeit at an alternative venue to Redlands after a scheduling mix-up.
In County Division Two, Charlton Down visit Wimborne & Colehill Seconds first up, while Division Three champions Shaftesbury travel to relegated Parley Seconds.
Promoted Puddletown journey to Blandford, while Beaminster are away to Witchampton.
Dorchester Seconds get their County Division Three season underway at Hamworthy Rec Seconds, while Abbotsbury visit Bradford Abbas in their County Division Four opener.
Promoted Martinstown Seconds host Ashmore.
County Division Five promotion favourites Portland Red Triangle Seconds host Witchampton Seconds, while Bere Regis Seconds face a lengthy trip to Symene.
In County Division Six, relegated Weymouth Seconds will journey to Cheselbourne, while newly-formed Puddletown Seconds host Bournemouth Fifths.
The season is set to finish on Saturday, August 31 across all divisions.
2019 DORSET FUNERAL PLAN PREMIER LEAGUE
DORCHESTER
MAY
4 Wimborne & Colehill (H)
11 Broadstone (A)
18 Sherborne (H)
25 Stalbridge (A)
JUNE
1 Christchurch (H)
8 Bere Regis (A)
15 Poole Town (H)
22 Shroton (H)
29 Martinstown (A)
JULY
6 Wimborne & Colehill (A)
13 Broadstone (H)
20 Sherborne (A)
27 Stalbridge (H)
AUGUST
3 Christchurch (A)
10 Bere Regis (H)
17 Poole Town (A)
24 Shroton (A)
31 Martinstown (H)
MARTINSTOWN
MAY
4 Poole Town (A)
11 Bere Regis (H)
18 Shroton (A)
25 Broadstone (H)
JUNE
1 Wimborne & Colehill (A)
8 Stalbridge (A)
15 Sherborne (H)
22 Christchurch (A)
29 Dorchester (H)
JUNE
6 Poole Town (H)
13 Bere Regis (A)
20 Shroton (H)
27 Broadstone (A)
AUGUST
3 Wimborne & Colehill (H)
10 Stalbridge (H)
17 Sherborne (A)
24 Christchurch (H)
31 Dorchester (A)
BERE REGIS
MAY
4 Stalbridge (H)
11 Martinstown (A)
18 Christchurch (H)
25 Wimborne & Colehill (A)
JUNE
1 Poole Town (A)
8 Dorchester (H)
15 Shroton (A)
22 Broadstone (H)
29 Sherborne (A)
JULY
6 Stalbridge (A)
13 Martinstown (H)
20 Christchurch (A)
27 Wimborne & Colehill (H)
AUGUST
3 Poole Town (H)
10 Dorchester (A)
17 Shroton (H)
24 Broadstone (A)
31 Sherborne (H)
COUNTY DIVISION ONE
PORTLAND RED TRIANGLE
MAY
4 Compton House (A)
11 Broadstone II (H)
18 Cerne Valley (A)
25 Swanage (H)
JUNE
1 Weymouth (A)
8 Marnhull (H)
15 Shillingstone (A)
22 Cattistock (H)
29 Hamworthy Recreation (A)
JULY
6 Compton House (H)
13 Broadstone II (A)
20 Cerne Valley (H)
27 Swanage (A)
AUGUST
3 Weymouth (H)
10 Marnhull (A)
17 Shillingstone (H)
24 Cattistock (A)
31 Hamworthy Recreation (H)
WEYMOUTH
MAY
4 Hamworthy Recreation (H)
11 Shillingstone (A)
18 Marnhull (H)
25 Cattistock (A)
JUNE
1 Portland RT (H)*
8 Broadstone 2nds (A)
15 Compton House (H)
22 Swanage (A)
29 Cerne Valley (H)
JULY
6 Hamworthy Recreation (A)
13 Shillingstone (H)
20 Marnhull (A)
27 Cattistock (H)
AUGUST
3 Portland RT (A)
10 Broadstone 2nds (H)
17 Compton House (A)
24 Swanage (H)
31 Cerne Valley (A)
*Alternative venue required
COUNTY DIVISION TWO
BEAMINSTER
MAY
4 Witchampton (A)
11 Cranborne (H)
18 Parley II (A)
25 Blandford (H)
JUNE
1 Puddletown (A)
8 Shaftesbury (H)
15 Poole Town II (A)
22 Charlton Down (A)
29 Wimborne & Colehill II (H)
JULY
6 Witchampton (H)
13 Cranborne (A)
20 Parley II (H)
27 Blandford (A)
AUGUST
3 Puddletown (H)
10 Shaftesbury (A)
17 Poole Town II (H)
24 Charlton Down (H)
31 Wimborne & Colehill II (A)
CHARLTON DOWN
MAY
4 Wimborne & Colehill II (A)
11 Witchampton (H)
18 Cranborne (A)
25 Parley II (H)
JUNE
1 Blandford (A)
8 Poole Town II (H)
15 Shaftesbury (A)
22 Beaminster (H)
29 Puddletown (A)
JULY
6 Wimborne & Colehill II (H)
13 Witchampton (A)
20 Cranborne (H)
27 Parley II (A)
AUGUST
3 Blandford (H)
10 Poole Town II (A)
17 Shaftesbury (H)
24 Beaminster (A)
31 Puddletown (H)
PUDDLETOWN
MAY
4 Blandford (A)
11 Parley II (H)
18 Shaftesbury (H)
25 Poole Town II (A)
JUNE
1 Beaminster (H)
8 Cranborne (A)
15 Witchampton (H)
22 Wimborne & Colehill II (A)
29 Charlton Down (H)
JULY
6 Blandford (H)
13 Parley II (A)
20 Shaftesbury (A)
27 Poole Town II (H)
AUGUST
3 Beaminster (A)
10 Cranborne (H)
17 Witchampton (A)
24 Wimborne & Colehill II (H)
31 Charlton Down (A)
COUNTY DIVISION FOUR
ABBOTSBURY
MAY
4 Bradford Abbas (A)
11 Wimborne & Colehill III (H)
18 Royal Challengers Sports (H)
25 Ashmore (A)
JUNE
1 Swanage II (H)
8 Martinstown II (A)
15 Chalke Valley (H)
22 Broadstone III (A)
29 BYE
JULY
6 Bradford Abbas (H)
13 Wimborne & Colehill III (A)
20 Royal Challengers Sports (A)
27 Ashmore (H)
AUGUST
3 Swanage II (A)
10 Martinstown II (H)
17 Chalke Valley (A)
24 Broadstone III (H)
31 BYE
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here