BRIDPORT skipper Paul Tweddle is tipping his young players to make a big impact in Dorset Funeral Plan League Division One this season.

With the loss of five key members from last summer's team the Dorset wicketkeeper will be forced to blood a string of the club's leading youngsters this term.

But Tweddle, who graduated from the youth ranks himself, is confident that they will step up and produce the goods.

Former skipper Jon Whetlor, who scored more than 700 runs last season, is moving to Australia this week and will leave a massive hole in the batting line up.

Tom Hayball has also moved away while Sean Fitzgerald is stepping down to run the second team and opening bowler Rob Nobbs has joined Weymouth.

Add to that a knee ligament injury to all rounder Chris Backhouse and the Brewery Ground outfit is short both in numbers and experience.

Tweddle said: "They have been a big part of the team for the last few years and the side will definitely miss them but it gives the others a big chance to step up and perform like I know they can.

"Sam Challis, Wesley Lewis, Sam Good and Fred Everitt are just a few of the youth players that I will be calling on this year and I have all the confidence that they will perform well in a well-balanced team."

"I think to re-establish a mid-table finishing position would be a big aim," added Tweddle.

"But the league will be a bit of an unknown quantity this year so I think it will be a few games before we will know for sure where we can aim to finish."

Bridport finished in sixth spot last season with seven victories and one tie from their 18 games.

The Brewery Ground outfit boasted three of the top five league runscorers in Whetlor (704), Tweddle (661) and Rob Atkins (561).

All three averaged well in excess of 45 and notched three centuries and 11 half centuries between them.

Hayball chipped in with a further 286 runs as Bridport's batsmen dominated their season.

The bowlers came under extreme pressure and did not realise the potential they had shown when they were promoted from Division Two in 2005.

Former Dorset wicketkeeper Fitzgerald was the find of the season. His off spin bagged him 24 wickets at a cost of less than 17 runs apiece.

Backhouse topped the wicket takers with 30 but no other player averaged less than 28 with the ball. Nobbs took 19 wickets and Adam Herring 21 with the new ball.

n Bridport have decided to play a second Saturday side this season to give their thriving youth section a smooth entry into adult cricket.

Sean Fitzgerald will lead the side in Dorset Division Eight.

BRIDPORT'S FIXTURES DIVISION ONE MAY 5 - Swanage (h); 12 - Stalbridge (a); 19 - Broadstone II (h); 26 - Wimborne & Colehill II (a) JUNE 2 - Marnhull (h); 9 - Bournemouth (a); 16 - Corfe Mullen (h); 23 - Dorchester (a); 30 - Beaminster (a) JULY 7 - Swanage (a); 14 - Stalbridge (h); 21 - Broadstone (a); 28 - Wimborne & Colehill II (h) AUGUST 4 - Marnhull (a); 11 - Bournemouth (h); 18 - Corfe Mullen (a); 25 - Dorchester (h) SEPTEMBER 1 - Beaminster (h)