The last time that the Captains were at Clevedon the rain came in buckets. No sight of that in this match as we welcomed South Wales Coast to a warm and sun-baked course which overlooked ‘Gods Own country’ as the players from Wales called it.
The teams gathered and ‘hopalong’ Marcus Woodward, the non-playing Captain of Captains welcomed all introducing the two match Captains to read out the pairs over sandwiches and chips.
Home Captain and debutant Ashley Wright, playing with Mike Rossiter played against Wynne Walter and Steve Jones. What a game! A great fight with birdies a plenty. Both teams shot under par gross with Ashley winning the 17th which decided the game 1 up in Somerset’s favour.
John Perkins and Rob Hirons were out manoeuvred by the Welsh wizards of John Critchley and Colin Watkins. Out putted, out chipped and out driven but played in great spirit Somerset managed to hold on to the 17th where they then fell to a 2 and 1 loss.
Rob Darvell was on great form and backed up by Ian Gover were never behind against Dave McAndrew and Tony Dobbs. Pegged backed from 2 up after 2 it looked to be interesting but then Somerset pulled away and won on the 16th after both balls from the opposition found the water.
Another comeback that proved to only encourage the opposition happened in the next game. Ben Gliddon and Groff Rooke fought back against Ray Hooper and Richard Hird on the back nine from 2 down. Unfortunately from was no further improvement and Somerset finally lost 4 and 2.
The front nine was a story of lost and wrong balls for Paul Chesney and Colin Mantle, playing for Somerset, in the next match but they did mange to keep in to only 1 down at the turn. Jeff Price and Bob Evans then won the next two holes to go 3 up. A birdie from Paul on the 12th brought it back to 2 down only then lose a hole and be dormy 3. Colin used his shot to win the 16th and Paul won 17. Needing a birdie on the 18th Paul completed this part of the game plan – however Bob also got a birdie – another great game. Somerset lost 1 down.
Another close game was played between David Willis and Rob Hardy against the Welsh pair of Dilwyn Bull and John Linton. The Welsh pair spotted their homeland and went 3 up. This was too much for the Somerset pair and they lost 2 and 1. Slight confusion came in filling in the match report as the heat proved too much for the Somerset correspondent who filled in the wrong section.
Keri was a tremendous Match Manager. Phil Hodge was a wonderful late replacement. They played Andrew Eveleigh and Graham Bartley with Somerset losing by a Woof! Woof! These were the only two words on the report.
The water on the 16th was the downfall for the Somerset pair of Phil Stone and David Boulton who played against Mike Smith and Mark Hudman. In another tight game this error by the Somerset boys did rather spoil the good golf played over 5 hours in great company. Wales won 2 and 1 in this match.
Despite Marcus patrolling the course like Luke Donald at a Ryder Cup he could not coach the team into wins and the match result of a loss to Somerset of 6 to 2. South Wales Coast held onto the trophy which was lucky as they forgot to bring it and were presented with a bucket instead.
Many thanks to Clevedon for their hospitality where the most discussion was about how the Somerset boys were going to get home with the M5 being blocked (again!). Fortunately the motorway to the North was clear meaning the away team had the prospect of better journeys.
