Sadly the prolonged hot spell (and watering restrictions imposed on the club) meant that the greens were not at their usual best. Firm, slightly fluffy and a few bare/burnt patches is probably the best way to describe them. The rest of the course was in very good condition though.

Knowing that, like an Army, the seconds run best after a hearty breakfast I had asked that the usual bacon roll be replaced with the ?Hearsall Half Breakfast? (goodness knows how big the full breakfast must be!) The seconds obviously perform well on a half full stomach ?? read on!

I put out my reliable, Bainbridge winning (and home) pairing of Sam Foster and James Bromley in the first foursomes. This would surely be a guaranteed point on the board! News came through that Fos and Bromers were 4 down after 7 holes and they also lost the 8th ? disaster! Fortunately it appears that they were making use of the old 'false sense of security' tactic as they started to real their opposition in. 4 wins on the trot saw them back to 1 down after 12 holes and the momentum was with the Warwickshire pair, eventually coming out 2&1 winners.

Next up was Antony Gascoigne and Dale Middleton. Gas must have felt like he was missing a limb as Steve Creed was unavailable (busy missing the cut at the Logan!), but Dale proved to be a more than adequate stand in partner. Steady play saw a 1 up lead maintained and then extended to 2 up and finally turned into a 2&1 victory.

Third pairing was the 'reserves' of Chris and Ryan. An early lead again was extended and a comfortable 3&2 victory was the final result.

New blood was next in the order as Will Smith and Elliot Forbes were paired together. Elliot is in a rich vein of form following his second place finish in the Finham bowl and Will Smith is playing some of the best golf of his life. Both these guys are rapidly gaining a reputation for being able to hole putts from everywhere and this match was no exception as they ran out 4&3 winners.

Another regular pairing (both HGC lads) Harry Ibbertson and Stu Bloxham went out fifth. A very tight game went all the way to the 18th. When Stu was surveying his 60+ footer he was desperately trying to 2 putt for a half. It was an added bonus when the ball went in for a win and a 1 up victory.

Final pairing was myself and regular foursomes partner of Lloyd Jones. Sadly I felt that I was clay pigeon shooting rather than on the golf course as it was a case of my going 'pull', 'pull and 'pull' again. Despite his considerable efforts, Lloyd's shoulders couldn't take my full weight (even if I am a little lighter these days!) We went down 3&2 to blot an otherwise perfect morning for Warwickshire.

The usual lunch of sandwiches and chips (served by very attentive and eye-catching staff!) was taken with mixed emotions for the Captain ? delight with a 5-1 lead, but disappointment with my own play.

I let Bromers have his usual siesta and split my Hearsall members up in the order. As usual I was confident of not only getting the required points needed for a win, but to boost our 'goal difference'. When I got to the 7th tee I was told that things were looking OK in the first 5 matches, but not so good from then on!

I put Foss out one as he always plays well against me whenever we play scratch league matches (scoring some stupidly low scores in the process). He looked a little shocked when I told him he was leading us off, but he took to the task. A ding dong battle ensued, but home advantage finally told and he won 2&1.

Gas is always a reliable top of the order player. He was obviously worried about getting fatigue and was in a rush to get the job done. An eagle on the 13th helped him to a resounding 5&4 win.

Dale carried on his good form from the morning and notched up a 2 up lead just after the turn. He got to the 18th tee 1 up and won the tough finishing hole to finish a 2 up winner.

Poor Ryan must wonder what he has done as once again he came up again a master of the greens. Three birdies against him in 4 holes saw him go 3 down. Try as he might he couldn't get back into the match and ended up on the wrong side of a 3&2 score line.

Will Smith has been a member at HGC for many years and made that advantage count as he won 1 up (thus getting the 2 points that I had demanded of him!)

Chris Staite struggled to compete with his opponent and was 5 down after 12 holes. Lazarus would have done well to come back from that position and Chris was not going to benefit from a miracle. Despite his best efforts he came second, 4&3.

After wiping the sleep from his eyes Bromers was number 7 in the line up. His nap had obviously charged his batteries up and he took an early lead. Bromers is impossible to shake once he's got his nose ahead round his own track and he ran in a comfortable 4&3 winner.

This point meant that Warwickshire had won the match, now we needed to boost our goal difference.

Debutant Elliot followed Bromers and showed all the experience of a seasoned campaigner as he took a 5 up lead after 12 holes. It appears that the Kenilworth player needs to work on his stamina a little (or maybe just needs to be a little more ruthless ? I'm sure Adrian can do the trick!) as he let a few holes slip.

Nevertheless a perfect debut was completed with a 3&1 victory.

Local lad Harry Ibbertson took an early lead but then frittered holes like confetti to lose 3&2. Lloyd Jones was obviously suffering with the strains of carrying me in the morning and was unable to replicate his strong morning play (perhaps he wasn't used to playing from the fairway!) and ended up losing 4&3.

The final two games were nip and tuck affairs. Stu Bloxham used his local knowledge to take a 1 up lead to the 18th and a half on the last meant that he secured another point for Warwickshire.

I was last off with worries about continuing my woeful morning display. A quick tip from HGC pro Mike Tarn (thanks Tarny!) meant I went to the first with a little more confidence, but still thinking about tugging it. A sweetly struck, drawn, drive followed by a wedge to 6 feet and a holed putt helped to quell those doubts. Three more birdies and an eagle saw me over the line 2&1 (to gain revenge over the same opponent who had beaten me on the last at HGC two years previously).

Warwickshire had therefore won the singles 8?4 to give an overall result of 13-5, very satisfactory!

As always, the match was played in terrific spirit and some fantastic golf was on display for the number of spectators who had turned out to watch.

I am delighted that I will have a selection dilemma for our next match on Sunday 1st August away to Derbyshire at the lovely Chevin GC. 7 players won both their games on the day, a very nice problem to have.

My thanks go to Coventry Hearsall G C for the use of their golf course, for their fantastic catering and their wonderful catering staff. Also thanks to Graham Hayes for starting us off both morning and afternoon and to our lucky 'mascots' Pete Clarke, Jim Deane and John Duncombe for their support.

Finally thanks to the Nottinghamshire Captain Richard Jeffs and his team, I wish them every success in their remaining fixtures.

For the Match Scorecard CLICK

HERE