Northamptonshire I v Lincolnshire I

Venue: Northampton G.C

Sunday 8th May 2011

Result: NORTHAMPTONSHIRE I    7 - 5    LINCOLNSHIRE

MATCH REPORT

What a start to the 2011 Anglian League campaign!

When was the last time a Northamptonshire 1st team got off to a winning start in the Anglian League, let alone against a formidable Lincolnshire side unbeaten for two years. We will need the self appointed statistician Izzy to assist here!

The venue was Northampton Golf Club on a cool blustery day which made playing conditions tricky.

The County got off to an excellent start with a solid morning foursomes performance which saw them 2.5 - 1.5 points up at lunch. This could easily have been a 3 - 1 margin, had Haynes and Anderson not chipped stone dead at the last to square a topsy turvy tie against Ryan Evans and Fraser Carnihan.

The singles started in very convincing fashion too. Ryan Evans was in a determined mood and was never going to be denied the opening point eventually winning by 2 holes against England Boy's international Patrick Kelly. His win was quickly backed up by home member Lewis White who secured his singles point with a 3/2 victory. Paul Hodgkiss went down by a similar margin to the very solid Liam Bell before Fraser Carnihan turned in a very assured performance with a 5/4 victory. With Kyson Lloyd holing out solidly from 3 feet at the last to secure his half, the County looked in a very strong position with 6 points assured. After minor glitches in matches 6 and 7 it was left to Graham Bott to secure the county victory with an impressive 5/3 return with an inspired spell of golf which returned 6 birdies in 12 holes.

This left County Captain Campbell with a broad smile on his face having edged both the foursomes and singles series to secure an overall match winning marging of 7 - 5.

We look forward with confidence to our next Anglian League encounter against Suffolk at Diss Golf Club on Sunday 5th June.My thanks to all at Northampton G.C for their outstanding hospitality on the day.

Jim Campbell

County Captain

Foursomes

Singles