Jamie Carney withdrew on Saturday whilst Tom Ibbertson could not play because of a bad back - they will both hopefully be back playing very soon.

The replacements were James Kerr, winner of the Boys Trials, Jonathan Bryan who did well in the Schools and the Trials, and smooth swinging Sam Teather who made his debut at 'senior' Junior level after two years of being a top player in our U16s.

The morning went Warwickshire's way 3.5 to 1.5 points. Boys Captain Rob Bardsley kept his 100% match record going to 18 wins by guiding Kerr round to a 6&5 win whilst Purley member Adam Ferraro did the same with Bryan. The other win came from out nominal 'anchor men' Andrew Geraghty and Chris Freeman. The half point was in the match where Phill Wastell and Will Bailey teamed up.

As the singles reached the turn, a pond short right of the 9th green at Purley caught out several of our team and the news with nine to go wasn't good. Only Ferraro was in charge and would win out 'in the Country'

Rob Bardsley was up but by the time he reached the 17th, it was all square and the win record was in severe danger. Bardsley found the green on the par three, whilst his oppo was bunkered and would take four. Rob then charged his first putt and missed the return, so had to go the 18th still all square.

When Worcs No 1 hit to 6ft at the last, Rob responded by putting his approach just a couple of feet further away. He holed, then watched the shorter putt be made so ending and incredible run - but he hasn't lost for more than a year.

In Match 2, Phil Wastell opened up wit three straight birdies - to be three up. A handful of holes later and he was two down. With four holes to go he was still two down and between him and his playing partner, only two holes had been halved.

Wastell took the 15th, then 16 and 17 and made sure of halving the 18th for the whole point which meant only three points would be required for a first victory of the season. No points would come from either Will Bailey or Chris Freeman who lost to counter the win by Ferraro so when James Kerr arrived at the 16th two up, holed a crucial par putt to stay that way then made sure of a par and a victory at the 17th, just one more singles was required.

It duly came from the 'replacement' Ibbertson, Harry, who played solid golf from the turn (including a near hole-in-one at the 11th) to win at the 15th. That meant Warwickshire had matched the score-line from last year's ever so narrow triumph at Blackwell. We went half a point better when Jonathan Bryan birdied the 17th and parred the 18th for a halved match. It was a tough day for Sam Teather but he is very much a player for the future with a tempo that is never hurried and a game which will gain him points a plenty.

'It was a good start for the season,' said Junior Manager John Simpson, 'With losing the three players at the last minute, it could have been very tough but they came through.'

Additional team pictures have been added to the gallery in COUNTY MEN | TEAMS | JUNIORS | PICTURES