WEYMOUTH 177 (3) lost to PARLEY 178-0 (20) by 10 wickets

THE gulf in class between Parley and Weymouth was clear for all to see at Dean Park on Saturday.

Kieron Womble’s Seasiders were despatched with the minimum of fuss by the Dorset Premier League leaders.

Parley, a side boasting Minor Counties stars and top emerging talent, rolled over the visitors to claim another full haul of league points.

Not even an excellent 71 from Womble could stop Weymouth slipping to a fifth successive loss, one which sees them cut further adrift at the foot of the table.

Batting first, Weymouth didn’t get off to the worst of starts, scoring 54 off the opening 10 overs and only losing one wicket.

And after Tony Quayle (10), Michael Irrgang (11) and Jim Ryall (0) had been dismissed, Womble and Simon Browne put on 62 for the fourth wicket.

However, when Womble was run out when looking on course to make a century, the visitors’ innings went downhill.

Of the last six batsmen, only Pete Gordon (22) and Harry Mitchell (16) reached double figures and the away side lost their last seven wickets for 50 runs.

Dom Clutterbuck stood out among the Parley bowlers with figures of 3-31.

The Parley reply was over in less than 26 overs, as openers Callum Hewetson and Ollie Shrubsole knocked off the runs required with ease.

New Zealander Hewetson finished unbeaten on 72 while Shrubsole was 83 not out by the time the winning runs were hit.

Weymouth used seven bowlers but none could do anything to stop the powerful Parley batsmen in their prime.

“Parley have got the cream of Dorset cricket in the team and they were just too strong for us,” said Seasiders chairman John Ryan, who conceded eight runs from his two overs of spin.

“We could have made more than 177. We were looking at 200-plus when Kieron was in but we lost all our momentum when he was run out.

“But even if we had made 230, 240 or 250 they would have got them.”

He added: “I think we’ve now used 24 different players in five games and it’s unavailability that’s such a big issue for us.

“When I used to play regularly you would have the same nine or 10 players every week and then one or two changes.

“We haven’t got an under-17 or 18 team and our under-15s just aren’t ready to step up yet.”

It was also a bad day for Weymouth Seconds as they were beaten by 114 runs against Ashmore at Redlands in County Division Three.