DEFIANT Dorset skipper Giles Legg believes his current crop of players has the potential to turn failure into success at next year’s South West Championships.

Despite finishing last for the second successive year at Saunton last Friday, Legg points to a combination of factors in their favour for the 2012 tournament.

“It looks like we will be able to select roughly the same team, so we will have stability, and three of our younger players have experienced their first taste of South West Week,” said Legg, who inherited the wooden spoon from his predecessor Iain Donnelly.

“We took Robbie (Mabb) to his first event last year, and he has returned to win four times. If the other players can develop in a similar fashion we will have a much-strengthened side.”

Another bonus for Legg will be the availability of his vice-captain David Cook who won all four of his matches before cutting short his stay due to work commitments.

“It will be a big bonus to have ‘Cookie’ for the whole week. And if we can keep a more settled side I see no reason why we can’t be challenging for the shield next year.

“There is a very fine line between success and failure at these championships. If we hadn’t three-putted the final hole in the last foursomes match on the opening day we would have won the match against Cornwall.

“And with our win over Devon the following day, we could have handed back the wooden spoon as early as the second day.”

Legg will also keep the services of Bournemouth University student Dan Bishop who has one more year left of his business studies course.

The former Surrey boys and colts player was Dorset’s star man over the week and was picked for the South West team to play their Midlands counterparts in October.

Dorset kicked off the week with a draw and a win before Cook, Dean Barnes, Dave Norton and Tom Peacock left early. Their departure was followed by three consecutive defeats.

Among their replacements were county boys champ Harry Mitchell and fellow Ferndown teenager Sonny Wilkinson.

“You can’t afford to lose that many experienced players,” said Legg. “The lads that came in did well enough and gained valuable experience.

“Sonny played well without winning, while Harry won on his debut. It’s always difficult playing your first South West event, but it gives them a look at what they have to aspire to.

“Apart from one or two exceptions, we picked the strongest squad available to us. Fourteen of the 16 county qualifiers were in our squad.”

Next year’s South West Championships at Cumberwell Park in Wiltshire will be Legg’s final inter-counties event in charge as he completes his two-year tenure as Dorset captain before handing over to Cook.

Dorset squad and scoring record: Giles Legg (Ferndown P7-W1-H1-L5), David Cook (Parkstone P4-W4-H0-L0), Matt Hector (Ferndown P6-W0-H1-L5), Daniel Bishop (Christchurch P9-W4-H0-L5), Ben Harvey (Ferndown P5-W1-H1-L3), Robbie Mabb (Weymouth P8-W4-H0-L4), Sonny Wilkinson (Ferndown P2-W0-H0-L2), Harry Mitchell (Ferndown P3-W1-H0-L2), Jon Welch (Weymouth P10-W3-H0-L7), Harry Shaw (Parkstone P4-W0-H0-L4), Tom Leech (P8-W2-H1-L5), Tom Peacock (Parkstone P6-W2-H0-L4), Dean Barnes (Ferndown P4-W3-H0-L1), Dave Norton (P3-W1-H0-L2). Key: P = played, W = won, H = halved, L = lost.