NGL Hollingsworth Trophy

Reigning Hollingsworth Trophy champions Staverton Park made a dreadful start to their title defence as they crashed to a 5-0 defeat at Brampton Heath in the first Group C match of the season on Sunday.

Mark Halliday and Joseph Brooker (4&3) and Daniel Duggan and Matthew James (4&3) bagged games one and two for the hosts, before Harry Brown and Stephen Holt clinched the match on the 18th hole.

Ben Morriss and Elliott Metcalfe added another Brampton point with a 2&1 success, before Alec Francis and Ruud McAllister confirmed the whitewash by winning the 16th hole in the remaining tie.

Collingtree Park also recorded a home victory in their opening Group C fixture as they completed a 3-2 success over Daventry, for whom Dave Musker and Jack Haslam (3&2) and Jack Cooper and Tom Green (4&3) collected points.

Local knowledge proved decisive once again in the opening match in Group A as Overstone Park beat Priors Hall by the scoreline 4-1.

Although the visitors grabbed the first point through Matt Goode and Reece Kirk, Overstone quickly regained control, thanks to victories from Andrew Watson and Sean White (3&2) and James Barker and Richard Dalton (3&1).

With both the remaining games going the distance, Overstone held their nerve as Lee Hitchcock and Dale Burton confirmed the win, before Craig Finnis and James Gardner added another point.

Arguably the most impressive performance on the opening weekend came in the first match on Saturday as Wellingborough recorded a 4-1 triumph at Whittlebury Park in Group D.

Club Captain Glyn Pepper, in partnership with Chris Howes, set the tone for Wellingborough by taking game one on the 18th hole, before Whittlebury replied with a narrow win in the next tie.

The away side weren’t to be denied however as points from Sam Waite and Arron Baker (2&1) and Elliot Morgan and Steve Hammond (4&2) confirmed the victory, before Matthew Smith and Andrew Yearsley added another point on the first extra hole.