'We played better today - we were terrible yesterday', said Tracy Atkin, who partnered Claire Dowling, 'But the other two are so steady.'

The afternoon started with early wins for Fliss Johnson, who was conceded one eagle and had another two birdies to be too much for Rachel Jennings, then a point for Staffordshire when 'new girl' Kerry Evans drove beautiful, putted very well - 'The rest was rubbish' - Kerry.

Claire Howells then put the score level when she ran out a 4&2 winner with some very solid play. With Lisa Barton, playing last out but being 4 down, it looked like the two crucial matches were between Tracy and Katrina Holford and Jane Mander and Lorna Nicholls. These were tight affairs and would both go to the 18th.

First to finish was Tracy who lost the last, and the match, when Katrina holed for a birdie -

'I don't want to say anything - I played a load of twaddle over the last three', said Tracy.

That put all the pressure onto Jane's match and she wasn't putting too well early on, finding herself 3 down after 8. Jane then pulled it back to all square by the 13th. The 15th was crucial but Jane found herself deep in the woods -

'What's she doing in there?', said your Lady President.

'She's a bear', replied your correspondent. That was the last joke about a sterling performance from Jane, who had a full swing but could only flight a wedge to short of the green from where she wedge to 10ft and just missed to go back to 1 down.

The Staffs approach to the 16th was 'canny', pitching on the front of the green and running up the little tier. Jane tried to fly the ball all the way and her shot just didn't hold next to the flag but both players took two putts so that was a half and it was onto the dangerous seventeenth with its guarding ditch.

Jane was right from the tee and her approach just caught a branch of a tree, losing some of its flight and jumping into the hazard short right. Her opponent took no risks and her ball ended up at the back of the green leaving a long putt down the green. When that shot came up adjacent to the hole, it looked hopeless. Jane's reply, after a penalty drop, was perfect, perfect enough to roll up and into the cup as if it were a four foot putt rather than a 20 yards chip so the match went to the 18th, as news that Lisa had got back to 2 down filtered through from the far end of the course.

Jane was again right and had to negotiate her way from some thick rough. She was first to pitch to the par five green and played a superb shot to with 7ft. Her opponent came up 15ft short and could not hole so Jane was left with a bit of a 'swing' from left to right. She hit the 'professional' putt but it just drifted past on the high side so the overall match was Staffordshire's.

In the end, Lisa could not overcome an opponent who actually bounced a couple of lakes and if you think this level of golf is all about birdies and pars, Fliss and Lisa won a hole in the morning with a double bogey six!

'I am very proud of my team', said County Captain Anne after the match, 'we just weren't quite firing on all cylinders.

'I am still optimistic about tomorrow. We have come to Maxstoke to defend our Midland title and we can do that. Today Staffs had the edge and they were the better team.'

Full Results (Warwickshire names first)

Foursomes

Felicity Johnson & Lisa Barton bt Sam Birks & Rachael Jennings 3&2

Claire Howells & Jane Mander lost to Katrina Holford & Lorna Nicholls 2&1

Claire Dowling & Tracy Atkin lost to Bev Chattaway & Sue Spencer 3&2

Singles

Johnson bt Jennings 4&3

Kerry Evans lost to Spencer 4&3

Atking lost to Holford 1dn

Howells bt Rebecca Edmunds 3&2

Mander lost to Nicholls 1 dn

Barton lost to Birks 3&2

And in the other match, between Worcestershire and Derbyshire, back came Worcs with a 6-3 win.

Having won the foursomes 3-0, Worcestershire lost the first three singles but were in no danger of problems in the overall match as they triumphed easily in the final three singles. They go into tomorrow, when we play Derbyshire, knowing that a good win could put them right back into this qualifying round - which is just what we need! Be there to support our players if you can.