The 6th of June was a cool but bright day and Somerset welcomed Warwickshire Captains to Mendip Spring Golf Club which was in excellent condition for this match. Home Captain Steve Welch welcomed both teams at lunch time before the pairs were revealed and the players headed out for their matches.
A winning streak was on the line as Somerset Captain Mike Rossiter continued the SGC tradition by partnering Steve Welch in the opening match against Warwickshire Captain Jez Williams and his partner George Whitehouse. The home team got off to a winning start as the birdies flowed between the two pairs and Somerset stayed just ahead eventually coming out on top by 2 holes on the 18th.
Rob Darvell and John Whitewood took on Pete Murphy and Doug Rawkins in Match two – a tight game at the start swung Somerset’s way after 9 holes and a birdie apiece for Rob and John on the 14th and 15th saw the home pair triumph 5&3.
Match 3 saw Nick Prince and Clive Stilwell take on Michael Edwards and Ravi Baga. Despite a miracle recovery from Nick on the 2nd, the away pair made a fast start and with a tree and the flag stick helping them win holes they looked like losing, they were soon three ahead. Somerset pulled it back to level following some good golf on the tough stretch from the 9th to the 13th but then they fell away again with a net hole-in-one for Ravi and a Somerset three putt. Despite their best efforts the match was beyond Somerset and they lost 2&1.
Late replacement Rob Ford and partner Geoff Rooke were out 4th against John Loynton and Rod Williams. The home team were outputted throughout the match and an enjoyable game came to an end on the 16th with the away pair taking the point by 3&2.
So 2-2 after four matches meant the result was wide open and Match 5 saw Glyn Sewell and Jim Boyce take on Tony Rager and Mike Gregory. The tie was closely fought throughout but the home pair finished well to win on the 15th by 4&3. A strong performance from this evergreen pair!
Unless we lost the last three matches, Somerset looked well placed to keep the good run of results going. But perhaps this was asking too much as Match 6 went right to the wire before the away pair of John Bardsley and Frank Barton overcame Ben Gliddon and Marcus Woodward on the last green by 1 hole.
The penultimate Match pitted Steve Butterfield and Keith Norcutt against Stewart Almond and John Meakin. The match was close but the away pair finished the stronger and ran out 2&1 winners and Steve and Keith said they failed dismally to deliver the much needed point for Somerset.
So with the home team needing a win to level the match, John Beer and Colin Davies were up against Ian Hoskin and Rob Ewer. Ian was the star on the day and Rob contributed at key moments meaning that the away pair won the match on the 17th by 2&1 and the overall match went to the away team 5-3.
It was a great day’s golf on a difficult course with a strong north westerly wind helping the course bear its teeth. The banter at dinner was first rate, helped by an impromptu joke session from the away team’s jester and a generous collection to the Home Captain’s Charity Event which was the very next day.
Our thanks to the Warwickshire team for being such great opponents and to the Mendip Spring team for looking after us so well. Next up will be Worcestershire at Worlebury where only a win will do!
