Warwickshire went behind when 2005 Schools Champion Rory Kirwan lost on the last and although there were points from Neil Taylor and Chris Doughill, there was one match left on the course which was going very much Staffordshire’s way and if things had stayed as they were, that would have been a tied match and a big upset in the quest for a fifth consecutive 4 Counties win.

John Banbury is a Moor Hall junior and this was part of the reason for his selection for the Warwickshire team. He was obviously nervous over the first few holes and found himself 4 down after 11 holes. That was not a winning lead as after making three pars, Banbury the hit a four iron to 4ft at his home club’s most difficult hole, the 14th. He parred the next and then at the 16th, holed a chip from 30 yards. Pars at the last two and he had won 6 of the last seven holes for a 2up win.

The second round robin match was even closer. Having won the first three of the individual matches, Warwickshire lost the next three singles. The match win was made possible firstly by a half from Neil Taylor at No 7 and then in a very tense affair, Chris Doughill, deliberately placed at No 8 by Boys team Manager John Simpson for his experience, had to hole from 12ft to halve his last hole and to add the winning point against Gloucestershire, our strongest challenger in the most recent 4 Counties.

That left a final set of singles against Worcestershire. Once again Boys Captain Andy Sullivan thrashed his opposition. Andy only played 39 holes over the three rounds out of a possible 54 but he was nearly not the first individual Warwickshire winner as Neil Taylor was imperious in winning 8&7.

The points that took Warwickshire to the title soon came from firstly from Banbury, then Rob Browning and finally, with his first ever point for Warwickshire Boys, from Rory Kirwan. A 6-2 win was the final score after a 2&1 triumph at the end of the field from Chris Doughill.

‘I am very pleased, especially with the contribution that came from the players for whom this was their first matches and those who came in when we had injuries’, said John Simpson after the win was achieved.

Simpson was without Jack Sant who has injured his hand and was unable to pick Andy Evans who has shown some excellent form in the Faldo series. Their replacements were very much up tot the task and everyone contributed at least one vital individual match win. Overall, the eight Warwickshire Juniors playing were cumulative more than 20 under par for the matches. This quality has been kept up for the five winning years by the respective Chairmen of Warwickshire Junior Golf – Dick Ferry, Brian Fish and now John Jewsbury. It must have been also very satisfying for just retired County Secretary (and proposed County President for 2006, the Warwickshire Union Centenary) John Stubbings who ran the 4 Counties with the Worcestershire Union Secretary at his home club of Moor Hall. John worked with Warwickshire Juniors in years gone by and his club provided superb conditions and hospitality for the four partipanting Counties.

Will it be a sixth win in 2006? For the moment, Warwickshire can enjoy this very special record and look forward to sending a very strong side to the County 10s for Juniors, with a good chance of making the County Finals and perhaps going one result better than 2001.

There are player photos and more team pictures in the Gallery which can be found in County Men | Teams | Juniors | Pictures.

The full match scorecard can be found in County Men | Team | Juniors | Results