Essex Team Championship v Romford 5th May 2023
ROMFORD 6 SbN 5
The Essex Seniors team had a lovely Friday morning trip up the A12 to play Romford in the second round of the Essex Seniors competition.
No sooner had the first two groups gone off, literally the heavens opened, all that was missing from the deluge was snow.
Handicaps were very well matched, Stoke receiving shots in most of the matches.
MATCH 1: Steve Wood our first player out received the most shots of all, six in total but when you're playing someone off scratch, you are always in for a hard day and despite Steve having a slender lead, his opponent Chris, birdied his way in to win 1 up.
SBN LOST 1 DOWN
MATCH 2: Mark Clark was out next and similarly had an exciting game that went to the last but this time it was his turn to shine and levelled up the match.
SBN WON 1 UP
MATCH 3: Our play off man was next up, back and forth his match went, but steady Eddie, Ian McKay won it on the last.
SBN WON 1 UP
MATCH 4: John Smith was next and despite saying that he was struggling with his putting clawed his way back to have a putt on the last to win his match, we all watched and a large gasp went up as his ball lipped out to finish an inch behind the hole, match halved.
SBN HALVED
MATCH 5: Simon Oliphant was proud to give his brand new trolley a run out, unfortunately the wheels came off and he limped home to a defeat.
His opponent Mark Lazarus rose up to claim their match.
SBN LOST 7+6
MATCH 6: The ever dependable Phil Boyland was next up, he played some fantastic golf to hole a superb putt on the 18th to secure his victory
SBN WON 1 UP
MATCH 7: Gareth Evans gave his opponent a very good game, nip and tuck all the way round where a half would have been a fair result, however his opponent just nicked it.
SBN LOST 1 DOWN
MATCH 8: Dave Camm managed to convince his boss to let him have a day off to play in the team today. Despite giving his opponent a shot and also his best efforts, he succumbed to a very narrow defeat.
SBN LOST 2+1
MATCH 9: Our senior statesman, John Williams, has always been difficult to beat and he didn't disappoint today. On the way down he moaned about his fragile body and how he's too old for these matches. All mind games, he walked it !
SBN WON 4+3
MATCH 10: The Bard of Sudbury was next up, with Roger Davies receiving two shots, but he had an off day. Maybe his mind was on his BBQ and tomorrow's coronation.
SBN LOST 6+5
MATCH 11: Our final match was played by our newcomer to team golf, Colin Pottle unbeknownst to him, had a very good chance to win his match and take us to a play off. From three down he fought back admirably only to halve his match.
Welcome to team golf Colin.
SBN HALVED
ROMFORD 6-5 STOKE BY NAYLAND
I would like to thank Romford for providing us with a great golf course, great competitors and looking after us in the bar afterwards.
A very narrow defeat to a very good side.
Many thanks to my team for giving up their time to represent the club. They should all be very proud.
Many thanks to Malcolm Norton, Senior's Captain, on his report of todays match.
Team
Roger Davies
Ian McKay
Simon Oliphant
Colin Pottle
Gareth Evans
Mark Clark
Steve Wood
John Smith
Phil Boyland
John Williams
Dave Camm
Reserve
Steve Tree