League News

Scratch League

Division 1

Peterborough Milton made a dream start to life back in the top division of the Scratch League as they defeated an under-strength Wellingborough side 7½-½ at home.

With Matthew Reed and Charlie Pearce recording wins on the 15th hole and Milton securing another point via a walkover, the result rarely looked in doubt, even though all the remaining games went the distance.

Adam Scott made it 4-0, Chris Savage confirmed the home team success by winning the 18th hole, as did Peterborough team-mates Jacob Williams and Nathan Holt, before Jon Harris avoided the whitewash defeat by halving the last tie with Jay Noye.

Handicap League

Group A

Staverton Park became the first team in Group A of the Handicap League to record an away win as they got the better of Delapre Park by the scoreline 6-1.

With little to choose between the two sides for long periods of play, the visitors gained the early advantage thanks to wins from Joe Spittlehouse and Barry Harding (two holes) and Adrian Thompson and Ted Nilsson (two holes).

Nick Heard and James Humphries were also successful by a couple of holes against a Delapre side, who battled hard but ultimately only had two halves and a one-hole success in the final game to show for their efforts

Group B

A strong start proved crucial for Peterborough Milton in their Group B home contest with Kettering as they went on to collect a 11-7 victory.

Mark Doody and James Middleton (three holes), Neil Berryman and Liam Purdy (four holes), Steve Dickinson and Bob Duthie (two holes) and Andy Brown and Neil Thomas (two holes) were successful for Milton in the opening four ties.

Although the visitors reduced the deficit by taking the last two games, they drop two points behind Wellingborough, who secured their second victory on their own course this season with a gritty 8-3 home success against Northants County.

Despite away wins from Lee Ault and Darren Cooke (one hole) and Andrew Rudkin and Mike Wilkinson (two holes), Wellingborough replied with victories from Tim Coleman and Andrew Cox (two holes) and Mark Lacey and Carl Martin (one hole).

With game five finishing all square, the hosts needed a five-hole success from Luke Perkins and Raj Kooner in the final tie to confirm the team victory.

Group C

Local knowledge continues to appear a disadvantage in Group C as Silverstone became the third different team to lose on their own course as they went down 6-1 against Kingsthorpe, who lead the way with two wins out of two. David Green and Mel Toms were the only successful home pairing.

Group D

Overstone Park emphasised their determination to top Group D as they secured a gritty 10-9 away victory against Oundle.

Dale Burton and Phil Gardner (five holes) and Peter Etheridge and Colin White (two holes) were successful for Overstone in games one and three respectively, but the hosts levelled the scores with two comfortable wins.

Nick Harrison and Paul Kime appeared to give Oundle a decisive advantage with a two-hole success in the penultimate tie, but Overstone had different ideas as Jon Ball and Dennis Britten snatched the glory by taking the final tie by three holes.

Cold Ashby secured their first victory of the campaign as a strong performance from the middle order helped them beat Collingtree Park 10-6 at home.

Junior League

Group B

Reigning champions Overstone Park A used their greater experience against Wellingborough as they began Group B with a 4-0 away victory.

Baylie Pyke and Amy Nunn, who will both be representing Northamptonshire in County Ladies Week later this month, got the ball rolling with wins on the 16th hole.

Josh Bodimeade added another comfortable victory for Overstone, before Emily Nunn completed the whitewash by beating Jacob Pepper down the last.

Group D

Northants County A recorded their most convincing victory of the season in Group D as they defeated Collingtree Park 3½-½ at home.

Fresh from posting excellent rounds in the County Junior Championship on their own course a couple of days earlier, Eloise Feely (6&4) and Joe Jaggard (7&6) led from the front.

Olivia Holyoak-Church secured another home point with holes to spare, before County team-mate Benjamin Bailey bagged a half against Krishan Panesar.