SOUTH Wilts Under-15s have broken the long standing curse of regional finals by progressing to the final stages of the NatWest U15 National Club Championship.

The curse had looked to be alive and well after the club's under-13s, pictured, had lost in their regional final the day before.

Having beaten Somerset champions Keynsham comprehensively in the semi-final of the event held at Lower Bemerton, they suffered a batting nightmare in the final against Dorset side Parley. Their 68-9 off 20 was a long way short of the 124 they had posted in the last four. Parley, who had hammered Devon champions Bovey Tracey in the other semi, struggled to reach the target as South Wilts came out fighting. However, from 43-6 they recovered to sneak across the line for a three-wicket win.

The finals of the under-15 event were held at Millfield School. Parley were strong favourites in this competition and progressed into the final with an emphatic eight-wicket win over Cardiff in their semi-final. South Wilts went into the event, not expecting too much, with eight of the selected eleven being under 14. However, they produced a mature performance to beat Devon champions Exeter in the second semi-final.

The afternoon final started badly for South Wilts. They put down six catches in a ragged fielding display as Parley racked up 150-4 off their 20 overs. However, South Wilts stunned the favourites with a quite brilliant run chase. Henry Smith was the hero as he held the innings together with a superb 50 retired. Requiring 7.5 an over from the start, the team were never behind the run rate and kept going despite losing wickets. Henry Davis produced a mid-innings cameo with 33 quick runs as South Wilts reached their target with six wickets down and an over to spare.

nThe under-15s will now head to Oundle School to compete in the last four in the country in the National Finals Day on Monday.