Our Seniors team headed to Earls Colne with a ‘Results To Date’ records of 11 wins, 10 losses with the only halved match back in April at home to ‘The Warren’. If we were to maintain our winning position our players were faced with some challenge as they were up against opponents with, let’s say, advantageous handicaps !!  Across the pairings the least number of shots being ‘given’ was 13 with matches 6,7 and 8 reading 22,20,22.

To add to the challenge the the forecasted windy conditions arrived but thankfully no real rain.

With a ‘two tee’ start all matches were away by 9.30 and, I for one, was interested to experience the obviously flat course (being an ex airfield) as over time various people had intimated to me it was boring.

MATCH 1     LOST 3 & 1

Malcolm and Peter

A tough match with very little in it until the last few holes when it all fell apart. The Home Captain had been “having a mare” but sadly for us it all came together for him on the back 9. It would appear his bag will weigh considerably lighter now

MATCH 2      LOST 4 & 3

John & Brian

No match for our opponents, particularly Tony, who had 18 shots off ‘JP’. 5 pars net birdies by Tony proved the uphill task we all faced as ‘JP’ shot a gross 79 which was still not good enough. I played steadily but with Mike describing his partner,Tony,  as “being on fire” we were no match on the day. Course conditions were good with ‘grassy’ fairways, sand in bunkers and ‘true’ greens.

MATCH 3     WON 2 UP

Pete & Dave

A very enjoyable morning with good company. We were very quickly 2 down after 3 but pulled back to be 2 up after 8 and reached the turn 1 ahead. ‘SBN’ never looked back from this position and David’s 200 yard approach and subsequent birdie on the 18th closed the match out

MATCH 4    LOST 2 & 1

Tony & Graham

Not content with giving the opposition several shots we relentlessly pursued a tactic of giving the fairways as wide a berth as possible. 2 down early on we pulled it back to be all square at the halfway point and were then 1 up after 14. Unfortunately a holed bunker shot from Ernst was a ‘dagger to the heart’. Shots into the trees and on the adjoining fairway sealed our fate on the 17th, but just to show what we were capable of, Tony birdied the last !

MATCH 5   WON 1 UP

Brian & John

A great start and we were 5 up after 6. Slowly but surely the opposition ‘woke up’ to eat away at the deficit to be level coming into the final hole. However, Brian shot 5 net 4 to secure the victory.

MATCH 6   WON 3 & 2

Ian & Dave

A shaky start going immediately 2 down but some ‘fiery’ (not sure what that implies) play saw us ahead at the turn. A lot of close holes made more interesting with a few bounces from the trees ?

MATCH 7  LOST 5 & 4

Phil & Trevor

Once again the home team’s shots advantage were used well. When faced with a birdie (with a shot) and a clutch of pars our pair were always going to be up against it and so it proved. Despite the defeat it was a good match played in the right spirit.

MATCH 8  LOST 2 DOWN

Tony & Andy

Once again the final match was played in a very friendly spirit. Our pair were giving away the most shots of any but fought bravely, coming back from 4 down to take the match to the last hole. A 40 foot putt from Ray on the last green sealed the victory for the home team.

When announcing the result Malcolm chose not to emphasise the handicaps of our opponents but made reference that the return match on the 11th October would test their ability on our less forgiving terrain.

Many thanks to Brian Willsher for his expert reporting of todays match inaugural match against The Essex. Thanks Brian.