A sunny day at Saltford welcomed the two teams who had camped on the terrace and the good weather presaged a wonderful day of golf.
Marcus Woodward, the match captain, organised the day and had finely honed the team pairs to allow for a fair fight.
First out was Marcus and David Boulton and they soon went 5 up. However the Wiltshire pair of Kevin Philp and Steve Powers never gave up only to finally lose 2 and 1.
A very close game with Andy Carter and Iain Robertson representing Somerset occurred in the second match. As in the first match Somerset went ahead early on but the opposition of Dick Solomon and Jim Cameron fought back to be level. The two presidents managed a half on the 18th to share the match.
Colin Bell and Ray Smith from Wiltshire had the upper hand against John Perkins and Dave Diamond with the game being like the ‘Hokey Cokey’. Somerset went into the lead and then lost it and ‘repeat and rinse’. Wiltshire won 2 and 1.
Two down on the turn, Somerset with Mark Moorfoot and Andy Balcombe who birdied the 14th managed to bring it back to all square on the 16th. Wiltshire represented by Mike Bowes and Simon Bere chipped in on the 17th to go ahead again. Andy nearly manged to birdie the 18th but Wiltshire held on for a win 1up.
An enjoyable game was played in the sixth game. John Beer, playing with Peter Dawson, was the player that set the pace on the front 9. However the wheels fell off his game on the back 9. Then Peter came into his own and finally Somerset won on the 16th due to a concession from Paul Bell and Steve Smith playing for Wiltshire.
The Somerset pair of Phil Slater and David Willis chased the Wiltshire pair of John Brinkley and Andy Lucas over the 18 holes of a wonderfully prepared golf course in the next game. After a very enjoyable round a half was finally the result.
After a quick start from Martin Clapp for Somerset the Wiltshire pair of Per Axel and Brain Aspin rose to the top and it was all square on the 9th. Ian Gover, playing with Martyn, could only slightly delay the inevitable and Wiltshire finally won 3 and 2.
Somerset got into an early lead in the final match and Mike Snaith and Colin Mantle did not allow the Wiltshire pair of Stuart Knight and Alan Smith back into the game, with Somerset finally winning 5 and 3.
A good roast meal and excellent bonhomie ended the day in a wonderful way, and everybody went home pleased that the result was a 4 – 4 draw. Wiltshire retained the trophy and promised to make sure that next year it would not be held together with elastic bands.
