Anglian League

Northamptonshire’s Anglian League campaign came to a mixed conclusion against Norfolk as the first team lost away by a single point, while the second team won the return home fixture by the scoreline 7½-4½.

Competing at Hunstanton GC, the Northamptonshire first team made a solid start to the morning foursomes as Jenson Parfitt and Liam McNeela won by one hole, while Jack Brown and Ryan Genner collected a half.

Although the visitors lost the other two pairs matches to trail at lunch, the County responded with two early wins in the afternoon singles through George Castle and Fraser Carnihan.

With all the remaining six ties reaching the 17th hole at least, Northamptonshire couldn’t hold on to their slender advantage as Torin Little and Lee Hitchcock were the only away players to pick up points as Norfolk snatched the team victory.

The result meant Northamptonshire, who won their opening match against Lincolnshire in May, finished bottom of the standings for the second successive year.

Northamptonshire’s second team also finished last in the Anglian League table, but at least the reigning champions ended their season on a high with a brilliant afternoon singles display against Norfolk at Collingtree Park GC.

After defeats in all their previous four matches, the hosts made a slow start as they halved the morning foursomes, thanks to wins from Brandon Sanders and Ben Hawkins (2&1) and Richard Dalton and Jody Parfitt, who triumphed on the 18th.

The afternoon session couldn’t have gone much better for Northamptonshire however as Elliott Strickland and Dalton got the team going with a couple of huge wins.

Jamie Milligan and Sanders extended the lead with two more comfortable victories, Parfitt confirmed the home team success with another win down the last, before Ben Lavender added a half point.