The Seasiders ventured to SbNGC for the first time for several years and apparently many of their satnavs had forgotten how to get here too!  The weather was beautiful, and the Constable was in good nick, what could go wrong?

Group 1: Malcolm Norton & Kevin Price - Lost 1 hole

A nail-biter of a match with our valiant Captain and his partner fighting back from 3 down with 5 to play, to take it down the last. Unfortunately the  Captain's superb par wasn't enough as Bob slotted in for four with a shot!

Group 2: Iain Gault & Eric Fisher - Won 2 up

Another tight match. We thought we were in trouble when Phil (14) scored a net eagle at the 3rd and Jeff (21) scored a net par on the 4th to put Clacton 2 up. SbN fought back and were all square at the turn. Iain and Eric were dovetailing well and managed to claw their way to dormy after the 16th. Jeff won the 17th with a shot to take it down the 18th, but a par from Eric was enough to seal the deal for SbN. Really good game played in good spirit.

Group 3: Brian Roloff & Adrian Cherry - Won 5&4

Game All Square on the 9th tee, then SbN lit the afterburners and won the next 5 holes to kill off the game. A good partnership with both playing well payed dividends.

Group 4: Tony Carman & Phil Brennan - All Square

A birdie on the 13th from Tony put SbN 2 up, and it stayed like that until the 17th when Michael from Clacton holed a 30 footer for a four with a shot and a win. Tony & Phil both blew up on the 18th (couldn’t take the pressure) gifting the hole to the visitors to halve the match.

Group 5: Phil Hickey & Alan Line - Lost 6&4

The SbN pair were well beaten by better players.  Missed putts, poor drives and iffy approach shots meant that SbN were always (unsuccessfully) chasing the game! Good company, nice weather, shame about the golf! Qué sera, será!

Group 6: Roger Davies & Norman Davidson - Lost 2 & 1

According to the Welsh bard, they came a gallant second but enjoyed the beating! Apparently the fact that Clacton's 22 handicapper drove the ball 70 yds past the fairway bunker on the 12th was indicative of their problem. However, they thought the lunch was lovely!

Group 7: Phil Boyland & Andy Cracknell - Lost 1 hole

"We were up against it" they bleated, Clacton's 23 handicapper was scoring net eagles and birdies, so what could they do? Both Clacton players were playing well, and to be fair, given the number of shots they were conceding, the SbN pair did well to take it to the 18th.

Group 8: Colin Pottle & Kevin Walsh - Won 2 up

A high quality match with pars and birdies galore! SbN kept their noses in front despite having their lead cut back to 1 up on the 15th.  SbN held their nerve to close it out on the 18th.

After the meal the Clacton Captain, after celebrating their 4.5 to 3.5 victory, was very complimentary about the beauty and condition of the course, and said how they were all glad that SbN was now back on their rota after an absence of six or so years, and that they looked forward to welcoming SbN Seniors for the return in September.

Many thanks to Iain Gault for his reporting of todays match against Clacton - thanks Iain.

Team ………..

     Malcolm Norton (Captain) & Kevin Price

     Iain Gault (Reporter) & Eric Fisher

     Brian Roloff & Adrian Cherry

     Tony Carman & Phil Brennan

     Phil Hickley & Alan Line

     Norman Davidson & Roger Davies

     Andy Cracknell & Phil Boyland

     Colin Pottle & Kevin Walsh