Fortunately for us the Worcester v Notts game had a result on the Ryder Cup Sunday and our main challengers (Worcester) had suffered a defeat. This meant that we went into the match knowing that a victory would secure the league title. Indeed it was mathematically possible for us to suffer a defeat and still retain our title, but I demanded that we win the league in a style befitting champions.

I had tried to pick the same team who had turned up for the postponed match with a couple of swaps due to unavailability. Louis had again given me Gareth ?Posh? Jenkins, Ian Stranks and Karl Smith. Added to those three were my normal blend of youth and experience and we looked a very strong team on paper. I felt the same was true against Worcester and that came back to bite me on the bum, so I wasn't counting any chickens before they had hatched.

Unfortunately Rob 'Dutch' Holland had to pull out of the match due to a severe tummy upset (too many dodgy kebabs Dutch?) so I decided to play myself.

The foursomes could not have gone better. There were 3&2 victories for the Gareth Jenkins/Ian Stranks and Dale Middleton/Elliot Forbes pairing. The later not suffering too much from being weighed down with the Captain's money in their pockets from the day before! More good news as Antony Gascoigne/Steve Creed won 6&5 whilst Stu Bloxham/Harry Ibbertson won out in the country - 9&7. Gaz Greenway/Shaun Young and Karl Smith/Neville Gardner both had leads but had them whittled away. Both reached the 18th 1 up, but a win and a half respectively meant the lunchtime score-line was 6-0, the perfect morning!

To keep the team fully focussed I ran a sweep for the afternoon to go to the largest singles winner. This seemed to inspire the second team regular players, but had the reverse effect on the three first team 'ringers'. Gareth, Ian and Karl all suffered defeats whereas the second teamers had one half (Dale) and 8 victories. This meant the singles had been won 8.5 - 3.5 for a resounding overall victory of 14.5 ? 3.5, definitely the form of champions.

The only question was who would pick up the cash? Antony Gascoigne was sitting atop the order of merit before this match and his two victories mean that he cannot be surpassed (well done and thoroughly deserved Gas). He won 4&3 in the afternoon and was looking favourite as one by one players went to the 16th (meaning they couldn't record a bigger winning margin). In the last group out I was having a solid round and my opponent (a former Chelsea goalkeeper) was struggling. Antony's face dropped when I walked down the 15th fairway having won my match 5&4. It was very sweet to trouser the dosh whilst claims of 'fix' fell on deaf ears!

I'd like to thank John Stubbings and Bob Harrison for supporting us on the day. Both have now discovered the most mountainous golf course in England!

Also thanks to Nick Kelly and his team for playing the match in a wonderful spirit and to Church Stretton for looking after us so well on the day and accommodating the rearranged match at such short notice.

Finally, and most importantly, my thanks go to all 22 players who have played for me this season. It's been an absolute privilege to have captained you this year. I feel so lucky to have so much golfing talent at my disposal, that's why we are so strong at county seconds level.

I hope we will make it three in a row in 2011, I see no reason why we shouldn't.

I'm sure we will celebrate well at the county dinner on Friday 26th November.

Champions!!!

Coming this lunchtime - another disaster of a Warwickshire performance in October.