The Warren          5 ½       SBN           2½

The team awoke to a strange yellow disc in the sky – the sun was out!! It was cold but no sign of rain and as play commenced it began to warm up. It got warmer to the extent that post match drinks were taken on the patio!!

The course was  very well presented with dry conditions and impressive greens. The home side welcomed us and all proceeded smoothly until the Stoke team realised, we had 17 players!! VC Kevin quickly sorted it out and did well to apologise to the hosts for any confusion when he spoke after lunch. We were all grateful to Mick Henry for stepping down and playing with a member with such good grace. All sorted we thought – then your reporter and Rob Davies met their opponents on the tee and proceeded to tee off. Two cracking shots. However, this was on the 11th tee, not the 1st as anticipated. A quick jog to the 1st and start again!!

Happy days!!

Match 1
Kevin Price and Trevor Waterhouse - Lost 5 and 4
Good company as always. Opposition on form throughout and held it together well.

Match 2

John Jardine and Rob Davies - Won 4 and 3

The SBN team went 2 up after two and stayed in front throughout. Really good hosts and a very enjoyable round. RD was in stellar form including two birdies whilst JJ supported as necessary.

Match 3

Tony Emms and Del McWilliams - Lost 2 and 1

SBN were always chasing having gone 2 down after three holes. The third hole was hard to take as both hit trees but rebounded onto the fairway. However, the hole was still lost! Down by three at the turn Tony found his driving form by using Del’s higher tees but a fiesty fightback failed at the 17th.

Match 4

Dick Lumsden and Ian McKay - Halved

An honourable draw. Never more than one hole in it. SBN won the first and held that advantage until hole 8. Lost 9th, Ian won it back at 11 with a birdie but went one down by 13 and won the last for a half.

Match 5

Rob Swan and Andy Higginson - Lost 4 and 3

A most enjoyable match in good company.  Brian for the Warren off 5 handicap had a pars and occasional birdie round. Cliff was getting 5 shots off Andy but struck the ball really well. The net result was a defeat for SBN. 

Match 6

Ross Jardine and Gordon Bryan - Lost 4 and 3

Peter the Great (Warren off 17) made par at six holes on the trot and eight overall. He played very well. All had a good time but a difficult debut for Ross. Saving grace is an excellent surname.

Match 7

John Williams and Roger Davies - Won 2 and 1

John won 2 and 1 and Roger watched him!!

Roger topped his tee shot at the 5th but it ran to nearest the pin. As one would expect, RD was terrifically modest about this miraculous feat – as is his wont!

Well deserved victory.

Match 8 Paul Sheffield and Kevin Walsh - Lost 6 and 5

The company was great. Paul won the first with a par – game on they thought. More like dream on. The Warren played very well and a nasty combination of giving shots away and spending a lot of time in the trees resulted in a big loss.

Great fun. Lunch was a low cal meal of steak pie, chips and veg followed by chocolate pudding with chocolate sauce!! Super hosts, good course, good weather – fingers crossed for more days like this.

Many thanks to John Jardine for reporting on this match - thanks JJ