DORSET captain Giles Legg will be hoping to build on a promising start to the South West Week despite losing key players for the final three games.

Following a 7-7 draw with Cornwall on Sunday, Dorset kept pace with leaders Wiltshire by toppling the hosts Devon 9-5 at Saunton on Monday.

But Legg has lost the services of his vice-captain David Cook and his Parkstone club-mate Dave Norton due to work commitments.

“They are two of our most experienced players, so there is a lot of responsibility on those remaining and the new players coming in,” said Legg.

“Losing ‘Cookie’ will leave a big hole to fill. He has won all four of his matches,” added Legg.

“But his replacement Ben Harvey is also an experienced player at this level and likes links golf.”

Legg will also lose Dean Barnes and Tom Peacock for the final two games against Wiltshire (tomorrow) and Gloucester (Friday). Harvey, meanwhile, will be joined in Saunton by newly-crowned Dorset boys champion Harry Mitchell, Harry Shaw and Sonny Wilkinson.

“We have stressed the importance of keeping up the momentum against Somerset (today’s match),” said Legg.

“If we can win that match I feel we have an excellent chance of taking the title.

“Other counties will also be making changes, especially with the British Amateur championship coming up next week,” he added.

Dorset have not won the South West Championships since the 1970s and finished in last place in 2010.

“At the very least, a win against Somerset will mean that I can hand back the wooden spoon,” added Legg.

Dorset’s good start has been built on the back of some excellent foursomes results, traditionally, the county’s Achilles heel.

In both of the first two games, Dorset won three out of four pairings.

“Playing the foursomes in the afternoon makes a lot of difference to our players,” explained Legg.

“In league matches, they are played first and we tend to struggle. But we perform much better after warming up in the singles.”

Dorset’s singles winners against Cornwall were Cook and Barnes, while Jon Welch, Robert Mabb and Daniel Bishop followed suit against Devon.

Welch was a last-minute replacement for number one Matt Hector who suffered an ankle injury against Cornwall.

Cook, meanwhile, followed up his second successive singles win by clinching the winning point with partner Tom Leech.

“The final Devon pair imploded,” explained Legg. “They walked three holes after losing their ball off the tee, so ‘Cookie’ and Tom strolled to a 5 and 4 win.”