A losing start for the seconds

Neville Gardner 2nds Captain - Friday, 25 March, 2011

Sunday 20th March 2011 at Kingsthorpe Golf Club vs Northamptonshire - Our first friendly match of the season was held on Sunday 20th March against Northamptonshire at Kigsthorpe G C. We were greeted by a beautiful Spring morning and the weather remained very pleasant for the whole day

We had hosted Northants at Rugby G C last season and so our opposition took the opportunity of using one of their 'homer' tracks for this year?s match.

Due to unavailability or call ups to the firsts, I was without my top eight Order of Merit players from last season. This was therefore an opportunity for some of my squad players and debutantes to shine. I was still confident that we would continue our winning ways with the team that I had selected.

The foursomes saw three tight matches and two one-sided affairs. Ryan Greenwood and Chris Staite were first up and took their match all the way, but were unable to win the last hole and so were defeated 1 down. There was better news for Warwickshire in the following three matches as Dale Middleton and Nicky Jenkins won 2&1, Chris Freeman and Rob Holland won 2 up and the ever solid Paul Walker and Shaun Young romping home 6&5. There was a bitter taste at the tail as Simon Hawkes and Neville Gardner were defeated 5&4.

That meant the foursomes were won by the narrowest of margins, 3 - 2.

The afternoon singles did not start well as we lost all of the three top matches (Chris S, Dale and Nicky). That was countered by victories for Ryan, Freemo and Dutch. Sadly there was no more Warwickshire joy as Paul, Simon, Shaun and Nev all suffered at the hands of their Northants opponents.

The singles were lost 7 ? 3 making the overall match result a 9 ? 6 defeat.

My thanks to my team for showing their usual terrific camaraderie, to Kingsthorpe GC for hosting the match, our team mascot John Duncombe for supporting us on the day and finally to Greg Croxton and his Northants team for playing the match in a great spirit.

We have our next friendly match against Leicestershire on Sunday 27th March at Harborne GC. Unless Dave pinches more players off of me, I will have some of my 'big guns' from last season back. I am confident that we will return to winning ways to prepare us for our defense of our league title.

Results of the County 2nds Friendly Match Against Northamptonshire at Kingsthorpe GC

Sunday 20th March 2011

Foursomes

Ryan Greenwood & Chris Staite Lost 1 Down Miles Mudge & Jack Wilding

Dale Middleton & Nicky Jenkins Won 2&1 Bob Clayton & Tom Peach

Chris Freeman & Rob Holland Won 2 Up Harry Larkins & Andy Lilly

Paul Walker & Shaun Young Won 6&5 Jon Handyside & Dan Ashcroft

Simon Hawkes & Neville Gardner Lost 5&4 Mark Bazeley & Jean-Michel Hall

Warwickshire 3 - Northamptonshire 2

Singles

Chris Staite Lost 6&5 Jack Wilding

Dale Middleton Lost 3&2 Miles Mudge