League News
Handicap League
Group A
Hellidon Lakes kept up the pressure on Staverton Park at the top of Handicap League Group A as they moved alongside the pacesetters with a 20-2 home victory against Northampton.
Although the visitors took the opening tie, Hellidon quickly snatched control thanks to big wins from Sam Wade and Richard Barnes (six holes), Roy Trim and Chris Benwell (four holes) and Brian Jones and Simon Keyte (four holes).
Group B
Northants County produced a brilliant fightback at home to Group B leaders Peterborough Milton as they recorded a 9-7 victory to maintain their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Early wins from Milton’s Pete Bellamy and James Middleton (three holes) and Neil Berryman and Steve Townsend (four holes), plus a half in game two, meant the hosts trailed at the half way stage.
But County didn’t panic as Neil Stephenson and Neil Taylor (four holes) and William Knibbs and Julian Moss (three holes) levelled the overall score, before Ian Tarry and Adrian James completed the comeback with a two-hole success in the last game.
Scratch League
Division 3
Silverstone produced the best away performance of the season in the third section as they defeated Oundle 5-1.
Michael Gray (5&4), James Falvey (3&2), Robbie Turvey (7&6) and Mark Jordan (4&2) recorded comfortable wins, while Simon Orrey another points on the 18th hole.
Intermediate League
Kettering were unable to grab their first victory of the season in the Intermediate League as they lost 5½-2½ to Rushden at Overstone Park GC.
Despite points from Marcel Aarts (5&4) and Ben Atherton (3&2) in the first and last ties respectively, Kettering’s only other contribution was a half from Robert Aarts as Rushden collected their first win.
Ladies Cecil Leitch League
Group B
Rushden secured their place in the knockout stages of the Ladies Cecil Leitch League as Group B winners with a 3-2 away victory in their final match at Northampton.
With both teams recording one comfortable win apiece, the overall result came down to the remaining three games – all of which reached the 18th hole.
Although Northampton’s Tina Murdock clinched her game by winning the closing hole, it was only after Yvonne Wilcox and Julie Beavan had already confirmed the team success for Rushden.
Group C
Overstone Park and Oundle are through to the quarter-finals after recording their fourth victories of the campaign in Group C.
Overstone lie in first position after completing a comfortable 4-1 home success against point-less Cold Ashby as Suzanne Silvester, Freya Pickford, Leomelia Davis and Katie Watkins bagged the points.
Oundle remain within touching distance of the leaders on the back of a gritty 3-2 victory at Kingsthorpe as Pat Silburn, Karen Taylor and Ros Riley grabbed the decisive away wins on the 18th hole.
Ladies League
Elton Furze came up just short in their bid for a first victory of the Ladies League season as a point from Pauline Hurley and a half from Oggie Wentworth wasn’t quite enough as the team lost 2½-1½ to Northampton at Northants County GC.
Junior League
Peterborough Milton B maintained their unbeaten Junior League record in Group B with a 2-2 home draw against Overstone Park A.
Maliha Mirza (5&4) and Jacob Williams (2&1) were both successful for the hosts, but reigning champions Overstone kept alive their chances of reaching the semi-finals by taking the other two points.
With many matches set to be played over the coming weeks, Northants County B, Overstone Park B and Northants County A lead the way in Groups A, C and D respectively.