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Its Tough at the Top
Last year Warwickshire were top of the ‘pile’ – this year everyone is gunning for them and this was another narrow defeat, to Notts who still have a chance at the Midland League title. It was a good start though, both from the foursomes result and for our first pair in the singles.

Steele and Cryer continued their winning run (only one loss in a very long time) and they were soon followed back to the clubhouse by Chris Evans and Ben Kruze. Evans I Midland boys Champion and only two years ago, Ben did the double of Midland Schools Championship, so they represented a formidable pair at No 2 for Warwickshire. It was then the tried and tested pair of Nicholson and Kirby who gave us a 3-0 lead.

It didn’t last though as the debutants in the 1sts, Hearsall member Sam Foster and Runner up in the U21’s Matchplay, Adam Gray (from Rugby) went down 5&3. We were never up in the last match with Warwickshire represented by Gareth Jenkins and Paul Randle.

Cryer and Steel soon added singles points to the 3-2 lead from lunch, Rob Steele including a hole in one in his birdie blitz. An unwell Chris Evans (he has ‘flu) had a rare loss 2&1 but new boy Ben Kruze soon put the match score to 6-3.

The next five matches were not good news though – there were two one hole losses and two losses on the 17th – one of the one hole defeats was an incredible come-back from Karl Kirby, dormie four down he took Rob Sallis to the last where the Notts Champion (a number of times) got up and down from a long greenside bunker.

Paul Randle’s impressive 3 and 2 win over Ross Overton was not enough – an 8-7 loss and no chance of runner up spot now. It really is hard at the top.

Full score sheet is in County Men - Teams - 1st team - Results

David Morgan on 2003-09-07