Women's 2nd team v Warwickshire  

Andy Billson - Team Captain, Maliha Mirza – Peterborough Milton, Katie Amos – Northants County, Lottie Heavor – Northants County, Eleanor Hamilton – Northans County, Jen Kyle – Overstone and Emily Horstead – Perterborough Milton.

This away fixture was played at Leamington and Country Golf Club which was in very good condition. We were well looked after by both the club and Warwickshire Ladies.

Northamptonshire took a young inexperienced team with 4 debutants and 3 players 17 years old or younger. This is part of a policy to endeavour to give those players who eventually make it into the first team enough proper match experience that they are battle ready when they represent the county at the top level.

It is fair to say that when the left Leamington after a day of real golfing drama all of the players had gained a huge amount of experience that many of the younger ones would never have had previously in the team golf environment. This was exactly what team Captain Andy Billson had hoped for when selecting his squad.

The morning foursome matches saw nervy starts from both sides, but as the matches went on, the quality of golf improved considerably. Northants lost the first game 4&3, but came back strongly in game 2 with a strong 6&4 win. Game 3 had 2 Northants debutants playing and it wasn’t looking good after 13 holes, however Emily and Jen dug deep and ground out a hard-fought half. So, the morning session was halved overall.

In the afternoon singles games Northamptonshire made a pretty strong start and after 10 holes we were leading in 4 of the games, down in 1 and all square in the 3rd game. 2 of the games we had big leads in, so, it was looking good for the away team.

Warwickshire dug in however and chipped away in all the matches we were leading except the bottom match where Eleanor cruised to victory 6&5 to cap a very good debut with 2 victories. But the tide was turning, Katie in the top game got pegged back and secured a half. Lottie in game 2 hung on and won 1 up.  Things were still looking good.

Maliha playing against a lady that has been previously a plus handicapper lost 3&2, but there are times when you have to admire the quality of golf your opponent plays. 

Emily who had been 3 down after 10 took the match to the last before losing 1 down. So, it all rested on the last game on the course a win for either team would secure victory. 

Jen had played some really good golf and standing on the 18th tee on the difficult par 3 finish the game was all square.  After the tee shots it was really looking good for Northants. Jen was 25ft away in the middle of the green and her opponent had short sided herself 10 yards right to a green that sloped away from her. Surely no chance of an up and down?… Jen will 2 putt and we will go home with the victory.  But hey, golf isn’t like that…. Chip in !!,  and Jen could only 2 put for par. Warwickshire win the last game and take the overall victory 5 points to 4.

Whilst disappointed, it felt like Warwickshire won it rather than Northamptonshire lost it.  Andy had asked for the players to show fight and grit and not surrender their games if things were going badly and all players delivered, and a tonne of experienced gained.