SKIPPER Sam Collins is hoping rookies Parley will emerge stronger and wiser for their Davidstow Village Cup exploits.

The Dorset Premier League outfit’s debut season in the prestigious national competition came to a disappointing end following a heavy 121-run defeat by Great and Little Tew yesterday.

Parley had set up a showdown with the Home Counties Premier League Division Two club from Oxfordshire after seeing off two-time Village Cup winners Goatacre in the Dorset & Wiltshire regional final.

But it proved a bridge too far for Parley’s young guns with a sizeable crowd at their picturesque Christchurch Road headquarters witnessing a well-drilled and slick Great and Little Tew outfit ease into the last 16.

Chasing 190 from 40 overs, Parley made a disastrous start by losing their first three batsmen for just four runs before they were eventually shot out for just 68.

Captain Collins and team-mate Robbie Gunn were both members of Parley’s all-conquering 2006 National Under-15 Cup-winning side, while the hosts also included no fewer than four under-16s – Jamie Price, Will Hendy, Dom Clutterbuck and George Wilson.

Collins told the Daily Echo: “We were very excited to have got to that stage of the competition but just felt we let ourselves down a little.

"With it being such a young side against what was a very polished outfit which plays in a league higher than us, we just came up short on experience.

“But a lot of the young players will have benefited from going through that because not too many of those lads have lost many games up to this point. I think it showed there is still a little way to go for us.

“Great and Little Tew were a very well-organised side but, having not played in the competition before, I have no idea what they will come up against in the next round. But it was one of the most comprehensive beatings we had taken in a while so I would imagine they will do very well.

“In terms of games played, we had a bye and a walkover before we chalked up a good win against Shillingstone. The Goatacre game was the real highlight though because we defended a score we didn’t really have any right to and it was a real team effort.

“While we were disappointed yesterday, everybody at the club saw it as a very worthwhile adventure and we will look to come back next year and hopefully go even further when the side will be a year older and a year wiser.”

SCORECARD

GREAT AND LITTLE TEW INNINGS

J White st Price b Clutterbuck 53

A Hubbert retired not out 44

H Smith lbw b M Collins 29

J Haggett b M Collins 1

R Catling c Blackley b Green 7

Lloyd Brock b Hicks 1

J Garrett b Hicks 9

A Harris b Blackley 8

R Shurmer c Embalagama b Blackley 17

I Bryan not out 0

Lawrence Brock not out 2

Extras (3nb, 8w, 5lb, 2b) 18

Total: (for eight wickets) 189

Fall: 92, 136, 138, 141, 145, 154, 157, 187, 187.

Bowling: T Blackley 7-0-20-2, J Hicks 9-0-39-2, O Green 6-0-36-1, D Clutterbuck 9-0-43-1, M Collins 9-0-44-2.

PARLEY INNINGS

S Collins c sub b Harris 16

O Green c Garrett b Shurmer 0

R Gunn b Shurmer 0

W Hendy c sub b Shurmer 0

R Embalagama c Lloyd Brock b Bryan 28

J Price b Harris 1

G Wilson c Shurmer b White 10

D Clutterbuck b Bryan 0

M Collins c Lawrence Brock b White 1

T Blackley c Haggett b Bryan 1

J Hicks not out 3

Extras (5w, 2lb, 1b) 8

Total: (all out) 68

Fall: 0, 0, 4, 39, 41, 55, 55, 56, 64, 68.

Bowling: L Brock 6-3-13-0, R Shurmer 6-2-24-3, A Harris 4-0-6-2, I Bryan 7.3-4-8-3, J White 4-0-14-2.