Men’s 1st Team v Staffordshire – Match Report
Warwickshire Team Selected:
Rob Bardsley – Moor Hall
Rob Tovey – Olton
Dan Bardsley – Moor Hall
Will Bailey – Moor Hall
Joel Smith – Stratford-on-Avon
Dan Lane – Kenilworth
Rich Bush – Coventry
Harrison Long – Moor Hall
Warren Bladon – Kenilworth
Steve Creed – Stratford-on-Avon
Following on from back-to-back 8-7 losses, the Warwickshire 1st Team were keen to get back to winning ways. They arrived at Penn Golf club to play Staffordshire, with high hopes of a decent win. The weather was to be good all day, and with extremely firm greens, the course was a tough test of golf, where finding fairways was paramount.
Opening for Warwickshire in the foursomes were the Bardsley brothers. Rob & Dan had a close fought match, with neither team able to breakaway to any form of lead. The Staffs pair took advantage of a couple of late errors from Rob and took the match on the 17th.
In match 2, Rich Bush & Rob Tovey played an aggressive Staffs pair. The match swung both ways, with Staffs getting off to a nice start and opening up a good lead. The Warwickshire duo then went on a nice run to get themselves into a lead with 6 to play. However, they came to the 18th trailing 1 down. A nicely played hole, on a tricky finishing hole, led to a win and a halved match.
Following that match, Joel Smith and Harrison Long set out to get a win on the board. They got off to a slow start and found themselves trailing at the turn. However, a great back 9 performance meant they had a lead on the 18th tee. A solid couple of shots by both players closed the game, with a 2up win. Match tied at 1.5/1.5.
The 4th game saw Dan Lane make his return to Men’s county golf, after a long absence following a good junior record. He partnered county legend, Warren Bladon, and the match was never really in any doubt. A good start meant they led early, and never let their opponents back in the contest – leading to a 3&1 victory.
In the final match, Steve Creed & Will Bailey partnered up again after a good win at Bridgnorth in last month’s fixture. This match had much of the same feel, with a consistent performance from both players leading to a 2&1 victory. This meant Warwickshire finally won a foursomes session – something that needs to become more frequent if we are to get back to league winners again.
Warwickshire 3.5 – 1.5 Staffordshire.
In the singles, Rob Bardsley led the team out and got off to a fast start, finding himself 4up at the turn. This lead slowly bled away on the back 9 and he found himself scrambling for halves on 16 & 17 to come to the last 1up. Two solid shots to the middle of the green on 18 meant he closed the match out on the last.
Match 2 & 3 ended in quick succession. Rob Tovey was up against a good opponent, who played a good game and made it difficult for Rob to get a foothold in the match. A close affair for 13 holes, then a charge from the Staffs man meant he closed the match out 3&2. Moments later, Dan Bardsley won 4&3. He led early on and kept his foot on the gas for a comfortable victory. Warwickshire lead 5.5/2.5.
The news on course was good, and looked like Warwickshire were heading to a cosy win. However, matches 4 & 5 turned around after 9 holes. Both Will Bailey & Joel Smith led at points on the front 9. However, Joel’s opponent threw some great golf at him on the back 9 and the match ended with a Staffs win on 16, 3&2. Will was involved in a tight match throughout, which came to the 18th All Square. A rare mistake off the tee from Will opened the door for the Staffs man, who took advantage and won the match 1up. The overall match now close with Warwickshire leading 5.5/4.5.
The next 2 matches were one way traffic, with both Rich Bush & Dan Lane getting off to fast starts, and not relenting from there. Both found themselves 3up before the turn, and the pair extended their lead on the back 9, both winning 4&3. A great return to county golf for Dan, with 2 points won.
With Warwickshire having locked up 7.5 points, they had guaranteed at least a draw. Although, all 3 matches out on course were tight, so the win was far from a formality. Harrison found himself 2 down with 4 to play. He hit some great shots coming home, trying to close the gap, but was unable to convert, which led to him losing down the last hole.
Both Warren and Steve Creed had narrow leads, and both produced a moment of magic on their last holes. Warren had just fired his drive down 18 straight down the middle, as Steve Creed rolled in a 40-footer across the green on 17, to close his match out 2&1. A great season continues for Creed, with another 2 points delivered for the day. The match was now won, and Warren but the icing on the cake, as he delivered a fantastic approach shot in to 18 to inside 2 feet, meaning he won his match 2up.
The match finishing Warwickshire 9.5 – 5.5 Staffordshire.
The final match is to be played at Coventry Hearsall against Nottinghamshire, who are currently top of the league. A Warwickshire win would give us a slim chance of topping the table, which we will go out and try and deliver.
