However, Shrops and Hereford had won their first match (well) against Derbyshire and with past England Boy s star David Gojka in a strong lineup, over the newer course at this huge 36 facility, Warwickshire could not have expected as dominant a result as in 2003 (at 10-5 win away).

New courses to the County Match roster do not normally present anything like the same problems for our Top County stars than for the huge majority of us handicap golfers. This day was different as Matt Cryer and Rob Steel lost their first foursomes, a winning record of over 3 years going to a 5&4 loss. Cryer did not play well all day, something he freely admitted afterwards and his partner Steele was not well the night before. For Cryer, a drop in form might have had something to do with his very impressive efforts in the Tillman where he lead for 54 holes and despite a last round 78, made top 5 in this National event.

Warwickshire lost Matches 2 and 4, they won Match 5 easily and when Kearns and David Miller (a late substitute) were 2 up after 12, the chance to go into lunch just one point down was there. Travis and Williams (for the home team) then won three out of the next four and triumphed on the last green - Warks 1- Shrops & Hereford 4

In the afternoon singles, Ryan Burton had no luck and could not make a birdie, going down 5&4, the same score as for David Miller. Paul Randle and David Harris both arrived on the 18th tee dormie one down. Harris made 4 and halved his match but Randle could not birdie and lost. The match was slipping away from Warwickshire.

Matt Cryer lost for a second time, a point away which was countered when Rob Steele, playing with brand new clubs after his had been stolen on the way to the Tillman, managed a 4&2 win. We now needed to win all the remaining singles to not lose by our largest margin for some years..

Andy Kearns has limited his golf to try and get his back injury better. His play was good but not as sharp as he would have liked as he went down 2&1, the same result as for Gareth Jenkins. Chris Evans was 5 up before finally winning on the 17th, as did the inform Carl Kirby, one person who could have enjoyed the day from a golf perspective.

I was almost boring out there , said Kirby afterwards, Playing with Gareth in the morning we had a number of birdies in the first few and this afternoon I was four under

Warwickshire lost the singles 3.5 to 6.5 and the match 4.5 to 10.5

It wasn t the best start (to my Captaincy) and we have no excuses said Kearns, We will play much better in the remaining three games to have a chance to win

The problem Warwickshire have is that if Shrops and Hereford keep winning, there is nothing our County can do.