‘Overall, I am very pleased but I am disappointed with the 6s. This year, we had the best squad but they just didn’t play their best overall on the day.’

This year’s squad will lose Jak Hamblett, Ben Stafford and Sam Foster but with the likes of Chris Doughill, now a regular in the U18s team (and Midland U16s Champion), and Jack Sant to come in, there will be another very good chance of more success to come in 2005, starting with a possible five time win at the 4 Counties. It looked as if this match would be a comfortable win after the foursomes.

Apart from a void match through not playing the full course, we won with Ben Stafford & Andy Evans, Chris Doughill & Rob Browning and substitute Ollie Foster & Sam Foster all winning. Neil Taylor and Dale Marson were 3 down with 3 to play and took their match to the 18th, only to lose to a Derbys birdie.

3-1 up at lunchtime soon became a nightmare scenario as Warwickshire lost the first four singles. Firstly Andy Sullivan, 3 down after 4 eventually clawed it back to all square only for his opponent to slot home a long birdie putt on the last. Jak Hamblett lost on the 17th, as did Ben Stafford and Sam Foster also failed to add a singles point – the match score was now 3-5 to Derbys.

The next match featured Neil Taylor and again the Rugby player was down for much of the match only this time he came through and won on the 18th. He was soon followed back into the clubhouse by Rob Browning and Chris Doughill when both won comfortably.

Dale Marson was next on the singles order and he eventually halved when he saw a long birdie putt go in on the last and could not match that with his shorter length putt. The winning point though came from Andy Evans, playing with a belly putter and still saying he could not putt, despite a 2 up win!

Ollie Foster had come into the team at 9pm the night before when Jack Sant withdrew through illness. It was a winning day for Ollie as he also won 2up. At the dinner, after this the last League match for 2004, to which parents of players were invited, Chris Doughill was presented with the John Stubbings Trophy for the most improved player for the year. He beat off competition from Andy Sullivan and Rob Browning who have both had very successful seasons, the trophy being recognition of how far Chris has progressed since he made his U18s debut at the Junior League Finals last year

This win take Warwickshire through to play Notts in that match for 2004, at Morley Hayes GC, on Tuesday 19th October. Your support will be very welcome as we take on the same team as last year for the Midland League title.

There is news of a top 5 placing today for Tom Whitehouse, on the Challenge Tour, in ‘Features’, and remember that this site will have exclusive Ryder Cup reporting from famous Golf Writer Brian Creighton, from this Wednesday 15th, right through until the final day.