That seems to have been reversed with the 5-0 away against Shropshire & Herefordshire last month and then yesterday's 4-1 No Warwickshire pairing lost and two Staffordshire pairings had to birdie the last at Brocton to halve their matches.

With a change in fortunes for the foursomes seems to have come the situation where Warwickshire are like Norway in said contests, desperately hoping for a point from somewhere.

That form started last month but yesterday Warwickshire did have some sort of control early on.

Andy Sullivan (at No 1) and Dale Marson (at No 2) both went to the 10th tee 3 up. Sam Dodds was 2 holes ahead, and debutant Junior Dan Baskott one up with Ian Stranks just one down

There wasn't good news from Captain Gareth Jenkins' match or the just returned to golf Rory kirwan, after his accident. The final four singles matches were going Staffordshire's way as well - by the odd hole.

Andy Sullivan suddenly appeared on the 18th green, with Marson on the tee behind him. Sullivan and his opposition had hurled birdies at each other around the turn with Andy eagling the 8th after a drive into the win of 300 yards to just 2ft Things had become much tighter before Andy sealed a point with a par at the last.

Dale Marson had hit 'three of the worst drives of my life' to be one down on the 18th. He had to make birdie which he did to add half a point to the total.

Behind them both Kirwan and your Captain both lost on the 14th.

Sam Dodds was in no mood to relinquish his lead and duly won at the same hole but then the story started to get worse - and worse.

Apart from Dan Baskott, no Warwickshire player seemed in any sort of shape to add even a half.

Dan lost the 14th when he three putted but replied with a great approach to the 15th only for his opposition to hole out for a birdie from 30 yards with his wedge. He could not reply and lost on the 17th.

From the youngest, to the oldest player on the team, the hopes for a point which would halve the match all depended on one player - Bill Nicolson.

Bill had been one down at the turn, playing against unbeaten Staffordshire Captain Andy Guy, so as he made his way down the 14th, the news could not be good.

Actually Bill had used his 105 matches of experience to be one up and he made that two up with a four on the very tricky green. Bill took driver on the 15th and his ball stopped just short of the stream that crosses that fairway. From there he stroked a sand iron to 2ft for a birdie to go dormie three ahead. That was converted into a so valuable final point to leave everything open for the final match next month.

It wasn't good news from Edgbaston where our second team lost 8.5 to 9.5.

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