League News
Scratch League
Division 1
Northants County collected their first away win of their Scratch League campaign with a gritty 4½-3½ top division success at Northampton.
Andrew Blackwell triumphed for the visitors 4&2, but Ben Lavender and Andy Saunders were both successful for Northampton on the 15th hole, before Sam Gilkes added another home point down the last.
With the other four games going the distance, County kept their nerve over the closing stretch as Gary Purton and Owen Watts earned points, Max Faulkner added a half, before George Castle won the 18th against Ross Skidmore to seal victory.
Division 2
Cold Ashby’s search for a first point of the season in the second section goes on after they suffered back-to-back away defeats against Collingtree Park and Kingsthorpe on consecutive weekends.
Leaders Collingtree Park emphasised their ruthless streak as they remained unbeaten in all eight ties on their way to a 7-1 home victory against Ashby.
Trevor Twelftree, James Stanley, Martin Flowers, Glyn Hannah, Jody Parfitt and Brendon Moss all won their games, while Archie Plowman and Jensen Parfitt secured a half apiece.
Ashby faired marginally better six days later at Kingsthorpe as Stuart Bell and Kevin Basson earned away wins in games one and four respectively, but the hosts proved too strong in the other ties as they completed a 6-2 victory.
Division 3
Brampton Heath had few problems securing their first home victory of the third division campaign as they defeated Priors Hall 4½-1½.
Philip Anderson, Alec Francis and recently-crowned club champion Harry Brown set the tone with convincing wins, before Adam Ashby-Clarke confirmed the team success for Brampton on the 17th hole.
Reece Kirk got Priors on the board with a win down the last, before the final game was halved.
With Brampton having games in hand on all their promotion rivals, Daventry moved level with Silverstone at the top of the standings as they recorded a 4-2 home victory.
James Weale and Jack Cooper gave Daventry the early advantage, before Simon Orrey replied for the visitors with a 3&2 win.
Although the remaining three games all reached the 18th hole, the hosts took the honours thanks to points from Chris Eveleigh and Daniel Haynes.
Intermediate League
Kettering completed the most convincing victory of the Intermediate League season as they defeated reigning champions Kingsthorpe 7-1 at Rushden GC.
Marcel Aarts, James Attwood, Paul Wilson, Stuart Bell, Paul Atherton and Mark Hastie were successful in the opening six games, before Tony Farrow got Kingsthorpe on the board with victory in the penultimate tie.
The most remarkable win came in the final match as teenager Ben Atherton recorded a 10&8 victory for Kettering, who now top the table with two wins from four outings.
Northampton moved up to second in the standings after they grabbed a comfortable 5½-2½ victory against Overstone Park.
The key to the success was once again a strong start as Gary Slinn, Kyle Grant and Westley Barber picked up points with plenty of holes to spare, before James Brough and Gareth Parker wrapped up the Northampton success with wins on the 16th hole.
Ladies Ceil Leitch League
Whittlebury Park qualified for the quarter-finals as the Group A top seeds after recording back-to-back 4-1 away victories against Wellingborough B and Elton Furze respectively in the space of three days.
Carole Kane, Danielle Edwards and Deborah Dixon all completed big wins at Wellingborough, before Tracey Heavy added another away point on the 18th hole.
It was a slightly different story against previously-unbeaten Elton Furze as the visitors needed to battle hard for the team victory, particularly after losing the opening tie with six holes to play.
Tracey Heavey levelled the score on the 18th hole, Christine Coles gave Whittlebury the lead with a 2&1 success, before Joanne De Waele and Dixon confirmed top spot on points difference with another couple of victories down the last.
Brampton Heath avoided the wooden spoon in Group D as they moved off the foot of the table with a 3-2 away victory at fellow strugglers Delapre.
Bryony Travill got the visitors going with a 5&3 success, before Jane Rowe doubled the away advantage with a win on the first extra hole.
Although Delapre responded with points from Ros Colley and Mary Ganley, Brampton grabbed the team victory as Susan Hancock took the closing hole in the remaining match.
Junior League
Overstone Park B made it two wins in two home outings in Group C as they completed a 3-1 victory against Northampton A.
Oliver Godwin gave the hosts the ideal start with a 6&5 win, before Jadon Pham added another Overstone point on the 17th hole.
Although Alfie Sunman grabbed a point for Northampton on the closing hole, it was only after Freya Pickford had confirmed the home success with a 2&1 victory in the other tie.
