If support was going to be a key, then Copt Heath was probably empty today as a sizeable crowd of Silhillians followed their team. Only Mr & Mrs Stafford were there for Maxstoke, as the club was mourning the passing of a long-time member with his funeral. However, both Ben's mobiles were full of good luck messages and over the first eighteen, they pulled to a clear lead of 3up.

'Bar this morning, we were under par in every game we played,' said Ben Senior.

Copt Heath made two morning birdies but rued the odd mistake and a number of missed putts. No blame could be put on the excellent condition of Sutton, with the fairways as good as most on the Summer and their greens running smoothly.

Whatever Copt Heath had at lunch, it should be made widely available. They opened with five birdies in the first seven of the afternoon eighteen, including three in a row on Sutton's run of par fives.

'I thought they were going to turn us over,' said Senior, 'The 8th was the key.'

That hole was the turning point as Maxstoke went ahead once again when Copt Heath flew the green. The 9th was halved and on the 10th, Copt Heath were further away (twenty feet rather than five) but missed by the smaller margin. A hook from the 11th tee lost Copt Heath the next but they got that back when Maxstoke hit left with their approach. Two par fours at the next followed then Copt Heath were slightly left off the last par five, enough that their second had to skirt a copse of trees - which it didn't.

The branch their ball hit sent the ball into the base of a bracken bush from where they could only drop. That was really of no consequence as Maxstoke had arrowed a long iron onto the back of the green.

At the par three 15th, Maxstoke went for the middle of the green. Copt Heath had to take on the greenside bunker which they did but as on the 10th, their birdie putt slipped by. Off the next, Maxstoke hit a rare errant drive. It wasn't in any trouble, just 70 yards or so behind Copt Heath. That didn't matter to Maxstoke as another long iron arrow found the front of the green. Two down, Copt Heath could not respond and their approach found a bank of a bunker. They could not up-and-down so after a 26 year wait; Maxstoke will once again hold the Bainbridge.

Copt Heath had to go to the 18th in every one of their matches played to reach the final. Maxstoke had it easier and in their semi final against Nuneaton, at Nuneaton, they defeated Andy Sullivan and Brad Read 6&5.

Stafford has been a top golfer for our County for some years, and is a past Amateur Champion. He has reached the end of 2008 off +2 and is working to go and spend three months in Australia to start next year. Senior has obviously worked very hard on his swing over this summer and will start next year of scratch. They will prove formidable opposition.

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