ADULT teams at Shipton Gorge have been taking part in the Weymouth & District League for a number of years with considerable success – but this year saw a fresh change of approach from the club.

The past season saw the West Dorset village enter a youth side for the first time and they made a very good impression on their debut.

The youngsters finished in fourth spot in the Third Division of the league, winning 10 of their 18 matches with 359 points and were only seven points away from a top-three finish.

It was a good season for Shipton Gorge as one of the adult teams, Shipton Gorge C, won the Third Division.

Joachim Wood finished with the youth team’s best playing average winning 63 per cent of his games.

The other players, Patrick Harper (54 per cent), James Noonan (45 per cent) and Jonah Corren (43 per cent) all chipped in with good points in an excellent all-round team effort.

Team organiser, Dan Corren, congratulated the boys on their debut season.

He said: “A huge well done for all of the great matches played, including those matches they didn’t win, as the standard of play was excellent throughout and there were several very closely fought matches that could easily have gone either way.”

Shipton Gorge’s youth inclusion was indicative of the number of youngsters getting involved in the sport from around the area.

n Last season saw a record eight youth teams enter the Weymouth & District League and the league development secretary, Andy Millar, is keen to add to that number when the competition restarts in September.

Wey Valley School have already confirmed they will be entering a team for the first time, joining Shipton Gorge, Budmouth, All Saints and Steps.

Any youth or adult players who are interested in playing next season, please contact a.millar212@gmail.com