The Rugby pairing of Marson and Taylor won on the last as did the two Jacks - Hamblett and Sant. For our last foursome, it was a welcome return for all round sportsman Alex Rodman paired with ‘new boy’ Stuart Slater. Nerves seemed a problem in their play.

‘I told Alex (Rodman) that I was putting him out last and he had to win’, said our Chairman of Junior golf after the match. Rodman, who plays football and rugby to as high a standard as his golf, responded perfectly being five up around the turn and winning 3&2.

At No 1, Sullivan was one up for most of the match and a couple of birdies on the 13th and 14th gave the Midland Schools Champion a comfortable 4&3 win. He was soon followed back to the clubhouse by Ben Stafford, two under par when he (Stafford) won 3&2, his 16 holes including four birdies.

Jak Hamblett was playing ‘one-eyed’ golf through tearing a contact lens and was out of sorts in a 6&5 loss. With the match score now 7-2 to our county, a big 5&3 win from Rob Browning (another player under par) gave us the singles point for the match.

That should have come from Neil Taylor, dormie three up against Sam Breakes. Neil lost the last three for only a half and his fellow Rugby member Dale Marson did not have his best day, losing 2&1 in his singles.

Three matches were still out on the course, not including any Juniors who had been involved in the 4 shot win by the visitors in the County 6s at Redditch last month. On that day, Shropshire and Hereford played the more consistent stroke-play golf and they deservedly take their place at the County finals. It could be close again though next year and this win will be important psychologically. In the last three matches, Chris Doughill and Jack Sant both featured, Juniors who will be very strong contenders for a place in the 2005 6s. Neither played well but both gained halves.

Jack Sant was one down when his opponent stiffed his tee shot at the 16th, Jack responded by hitting his approach to 5ft but could not hole the putt. The last two at Robin Hood are both strong par fours and Sant played them in two pars. His opposition could not match either, although he almost chipped in for a four at the last.

Chris Doughill, now off 1 after his 16th place in the McGregor, also was not at his best later on in the round. Chris was somewhat shocked by being 2 under par after the first four – and 2 down! He kept his cool though to take another half a point for Warwickshire and make the margin 9.5 to 4.5.

Stuart Salter is one of the most promising 15 year olds in our County and has County training. He has played for the U16s but making his debut for the Juniors was bound to be a test of his nerve. With three birdies in his opening 13 holes, Stuart found himself 1 down with five to play. He won the 14th with a scrappy six after both he and his opponent had found the trees but then four pars were good enough for another win 3&1 and a very positive start for ‘senior’ Warwickshire golf.

A number of player pictures have been added to County Men | Teams | Junior Team | Pictures