Karl Smith (Handsworth) & Gary Greenway (Atherstone) at 3 down after 7 holes were looking down the barrel of a heavy defeat, but with typical grit and resolve they pegged it back to finish all square. Dale Middleton & Charlie Higgens (both Coventry Finham) and Antony Gascoigne & Steve Creed (both Maxstoke Park) had equal and opposite fortunes in two middle order topsy-turvy games where halved holes were a rarity.

Dale & Charlie appeared in control of their match only to be pegged back and have to re-group to win the 18th for a half point. Antony & Steve on the other hand were 4 down after 10 holes and in desperate need of some inspiration, a mixture of a mistake by their opponents and Antony belatedly finding the middle of club (including what Steve described as a 'career shot', controlled hooded, punched, low, against the wind, moving 40 yards right to left around a large oak tree onto the green at the 16th, which kept them in the game) resulted in a quite unexpected and remarkable 2 up victory.

Stuart Bloxham (Coventry Hearsall) & Nev Gardner (Stoneleigh Deer Park) spent the front 9 holes fighting to stay in touch with their Notts opponents, bouncing between 1 and 2 down. Finally after 12 holes they got back to all square and quickly went 1 up with a birdie at the next, they would hold onto this lead and also win the 18th to record a 2 up win.

Lunch was taken with the 2nd's in the unexpected but commanding position of leading 5 v 1.

Confidence in the camp was high and conversations in the clubhouse were not just about how we were going to win but by how many !

Ian Stranks led the singles and at 4 under par won his game 3 & 2, not to be outdone by his club colleague Gareth Jenkins went 1 better at 5 under par to dispatch his opponent 5 & 3. Sam Foster match this with his own 5 under par and a 6 & 5 mauling commenting that 'I had to finish it on the 13th as I hadn't seen any of the other holes in the morning!'.

Karl Smith found some stern resistance from his Notts opponent which resulted in a rare 3 & 2 loss. This was typified at the difficult 8th hole, Karl after taking a drop greenside from a pond recovered with a chip-in for an unlikely par, he was promptly then 'followed in' from off the green with a chip for birdie !

The match was effectively sealed with Gary Greenway's 3 & 2 and Antony Gascoigne's 6 & 4 victories, it was now about extending the 'goal difference'.

Charlie Higgens & James Bromley added 2 points, 4 & 2 and 3 & 2 respectively.

The only other blot to the 2nd's scoresheet came when Steve Creed went down 3 & 2 to his Notts opponent, who as a regular 1st team player was having a lie-in following the 1st team match postponement at Robin Hood. That lie-in lasted until 9.30am and was rudely interrupted when Notts 2nd's were a man short and he was 'volunteered' to make the numbers up. A mixture of his 1st team quality, course knowledge and incredible short game was just a little too much for Steve on this occasion.

Dale Middleton, on his final county match this season before returning to America where he will be in his 2nd year of his golf scholarship finally broke his opponents resolve down the back 9 to chalk-up a 4 & 2 win. Stuart Bloxham quickly followed him with his own 5 & 4 win, leaving Nev Gardner all on his lonesome for what he said 'seemed like hours' as the only man on the course.

Nev wasn't on his own though, their was a cavalcade of buggies from both counties following him and his opponent from the 15th green. Nev at 1 up tugged his drive and narrowly missed the tight fairway by about a yard and was stymied behind a little bush. His opponent was a little shorter off the tee but found the middle of the fairway.

After watching his Notts opponent miss the green Nev chipped out sideways before also missing the green with his own approach. The Notts chip erred on the side of safety to 15 feet, Nev being short-sided and playing his 4th shot had no choice but to risk a delicate flop shot that needed to land on the first few inches of the green to have any chance of getting close.

Played with soft-hands and judged to perfection his chip would not only go close, but it would drop in the front edge at dead weight to give him an unlikely par and round of applause from the gallery surrounding the green. His opponent somewhat stunned by this, missed his putt and Nev was dormie 2 up.

At the 17th hole a solid long iron into the heart of the green at the long par 3, coupled with his opponents miss was enough to see them shake hands and add a 3 & 1 to the end of the scoresheet that finally read Warwickshire 2nd's 15 v 3 Nottinghamshire 2nd's.

The after-match meal was followed by the Notts 2nd team captain kindly commenting in his speech about the high quality of golf that he had witnessed from the Warwickshire players throughout the day and that despite be on the wrong end of the result that Notts would 'take it on the chin', learn from this and find the resolve to come back fighting another day.

Warwickshire 2nd team captain Pete Clarke in response thanked Cotgrave Place for the presentation and given the recent inclement weather the excellent condition of the golf course, he also thanked the clubhouse staff for their hospitality in regards to the wholesome refreshments provided before, during and after the match. Whilst trying to close his speech with some words of comfort and encouragement to the Notts team he was surprised by the interruption (not once, but twice !) of a mobile phone ringing !

On this occasion there will be no naming, no shaming (what goes on tour, stays on tour, lips are sealed, for now !), however, future indiscretions of this nature will result in a kangaroo court being adjourned where fellow members of the 2nd team squad will decide upon suitable sanctions to be taken against offenders.

The 2nd team squad would like to thank the support today of both the County President John Duncombe and his President-elect John Powell.

John Duncombe was on a rare and appreciated 'spying' mission given that the 1st team match had been postponed. John Powell on the other hand is an ever-present with the 2nd's this year and is making his own valuable contribution to keeping squad morale high.

I know that there is traditionally a little bit of banter between the two of them and that they are vying for 'bragging rights' as to who's team is performing better, well the 2nd's have put their marker down and are now top of their league (albeit only on 'goal difference from Worcestershire).

We encourage the 1st's to follow suit by winning both of their upcoming re-scheduled matches to head their league and continue towards the collective objective of both teams winning their respective titles.

The 2nd's will next have a home match at Maxstoke Park Golf Club on Sunday 6th September against Derbyshire, all support is most welcome.