League News
NGL Hollingsworth Trophy
Group A
Staverton Park secured their second away victory in this season’s Hollingsworth Trophy as they edged a thrilling Group A contest with Rushden by one point.
With all five matches reaching the 17th hole at least, Staverton backed up their win at Oundle last month with another battling performance.
Away points from Bill Marks and Greg Young (2&1) and Phillip O’Hagan and Steve Loydall (2&1) meant the clash went down to the final match as Adrian Thompson and Andy Sant took the honours on the 18th hole.
Staverton will qualify for the last four as long as they avoid a heavy home defeat against their closest rivals Daventry in their remaining match.
Group B
Kettering moved into pole position at the top of Group B after defeating previously unbeaten Wellingborough 4-1 at home.
After winning both their away matches this year, Kettering took control with comfortable victories for Neil White and Joe Hyde (7&6) and Jim Campbell and Dave Draper (5&4).
Wellingborough, who were successful in their last away outing at Priors Hall, responded with a 5&3 win for Steve Hammond and Adam Sherlock, but the hosts kept their nerve as they secured the last two points on the 18th hole.
Defending champions Northants County, who face away trips to Wellingborough and Kettering in their last two matches, kept alive their title ambitions as they bagged a second successive home win by beating Northampton 4-1.
Group C
Away victories remain elusive in Group C this season as Kingsthorpe got the better of Northants County A by the scoreline 3-2 on their own course.
Jake Croxford and Jack Walding (5&4) took the opening tie for the hosts, before Andy Trott and Mark Lineham added another point for Kingsthorpe down the last.
County responded with two victories, but the home side clinched the plaudits thanks to a 4&3 success for Elijah Woodward and Paul Cranswick in game five.
Group D
Peterborough Milton B boosted their chances of reaching the knockout stages with a brilliant 4-1 away victory at Overstone Park in Group D.
Although the opening two games were shared, Milton found the winning touch over the closing stretch of holes in the remaining three matches as they became the third different club to record a win on their travels in this section.
NGL Handicap League
Group B
Priors Hall collected their first victory of the Handicap League season as they defeated Wellingborough 15-1 at home in Group B.
The hosts, who lost 19-0 at Kettering last month, rarely looked in trouble as early wins from Scott Gordon and Jim Collins (two holes), Pete Dee and Mark Collins (six holes) and Tom O’Donnell and Gavin Symington (three holes) gave them the lead.
Although the visitors, who beat Peterborough Milton in their opening match of the campaign, halved game two and also won the penultimate tie, Priors confirmed the victory thanks to a four-hole success from Steven Tiley and Tommy Bryne.
Group C
Farthingstone burst out of the blocks in the Handicap League as they recorded a 10-4 away success at Brampton Heath in their opening Group C fixture.
After halving the first game, Farthingstone seized control thanks to wins from Dave Jones and Simon Nightingale (two holes) and Peter Butterwick and David Summerfield (three holes).
Brampton responded with a pair of two-hole wins in the last couple of matches, but it was only after Ricky Brown and Robert Luckham had confirmed the away victory as they triumphed by five holes.
Group D
Three comfortable wins helped Rushden start their Group D campaign with a victory as last season’s semi-finalists got the better of Collingtree Park by the scoreline 11-5.
Kane Attley and Marc Benzie (four holes) took the second game, Scott Manning and Michael Stephens clinched the next tie by three holes, before Ryan Statham and Dave Bailey ended Collingtree’s strong comeback by securing the final match by four.
NGL Ladies League
Reigning Ladies League champions Wellingborough recorded two convincing wins, plus a half, as they got their title defence off to a positive start with a 2½-1½ victory against Elton Furze at Rushden GC.
Wellingborough teenager Ashleigh Critchley was unstoppable in the opening tie as she triumphed 6&5, debutante Suzanne Wright added a 3&2 win before Carol Gibbs confirmed the team success with a half.
Northampton and Peterborough Milton battled out a 2-2 draw, while Northants County started their campaign with a 3-1 walkover victory against Overstone Park.
NGL Ladies Ceil Leitch League
Group B
Wellingborough held their nerve to defeat Northampton 3-2 at home in their opening Ladies Cecil Leitch match in Group B.
After taking the first two points on the 16th hole, the hosts were pegged back by Northampton, before Carole Cornforth sealed victory with a 3&2 success in the closing match.
Group C
Last year’s beaten finalists Overstone Park came up just short in their away fixture with Oundle in Group C as they lost by a single point.
Despite away wins for Clare Hunter and Leomelia Davis, the home outfit took the plaudits thanks to points from Pat Silburn, Claire Izod and Veronica Lyon.