IPSWICH, the holders, have won through to the final of the Hambro Cup for the third time in five years. They will face Fynn Valley on a neutral venue on August 12.

By Tony Garnett

IPSWICH, the holders, have won through to the final of the Hambro Cup for the third time in five years.

They will face Fynn Valley on a neutral venue on August 12. The Stenson Shield final between Ipswich and Stoke by Nayland will be at Fynn Valley on September 1.

Halesworth proved to be an excellent venue for both Hambro semi-final matches.

The course played well and members of the greens staff turned out to rake the bunkers between rounds. Not many clubs would go to such lengths to ensure that everything ran smoothly.

Ipswich did not have matters all their own way against a resolute Bungay and Waveney Valley side for whom one-handicap junior Alastair Hall and the far more experienced Mick Hills were 10 up on the day against Daniel Bryett and Gavin Richards. Hall's putting was impressive throughout.

This was balanced out by Ben Farthing and Graham Wardley who were 10 up the day for Ipswich against different pairings. The success of Ian Brown and Neil Meadows for Ipswich in the top match against Phil Vincent and Doug Muttitt proved crucial.

Vincent and Muttitt were three up after seven in the morning but then lost six holes in succession as Ipswich turned the tables.

Bungay were four down at lunch so non-playing captain Simon Jamieson made a tactical switch in an effort to make up lost ground.

A new pairing of James Williams and Dickon Housman came up trumps with a two-hole win against Paul Barnard and Jack Jowers.

The other fresh partnership, Nairn Black and Robert Long, struggled against Farthing and Wardley. It was a good test for Ipswich who will need to be at their best in the final if they are to retain the trophy.

Fynn Valley were without Jamie Abbott who was practising for the English Amateur at Royal St Georges.

Daniel Hedges was promoted to the team and played his part in the team success in a partnership with the experienced Bradley Wilkins on a day when players needed to tame the breezy conditions.

The Dobson brothers, Paul and Hugo, were nine up on the day which prevented Valley from coming under too much pressure.

Paul Dobson said: “The greens were really true and it was the best I have ever seen the course. There was a short shower in the afternoon but otherwise it was sunny.”

Southwold's Sam Debenham and Paul Sherwood were seven up on the day against Chris Smith and new Valley men's champion Andy Munro, a notable achievement. The Southwold pair needed greater support if there was to be an upset of form.

The Tolly Cobbold Cup for players with a handicap of 10 or more saw Felixstowe Ferry beat Bury St Edmunds at Stowmarket to qualify for a final against holders Stoke by Nayland.

The greens were fast and quite difficult to read but Tolly golf tends to be won by players who keep the ball on the fairway and find a good percentage of the greens in regulation.

Felixstowe non-playing captain Trevor Mason said: “It was typical Tolly golf. Two holes were halved in eight but it was a sound all-round performance.”

Felixstowe pairings of John Harrall and Glen Smart and Greg Rice and Mick Haddoch were both seven up on the day.

The bright spot for Bury St Edmunds was the afternoon form of Colin Aves and Gareth Davies who were five up against Dave Bloom and Mike Thomas after being all square in the morning.

Some considerable while later the warriors of Stoke by Nayland and Seckford in the second tie appeared back in the club house.

Stoke led by three in the morning but it turned out to be a day of fluctuating fortunes. Duncan Hyams and Gary Borthwick, for instance, were four down at lunch against Adrian Gipson and debut-making Steve Double.

The Stoke players were one one at the final count after making a great recovery.

James Draycott, the Seckford junior captain, and Graham Eastwell were two down in the morning against Stoke secretary Mike Verhelst and junior organiser Gerry Day. They were all square at the end.

Mark Summers and Ian Donachy established a five-hole lead against Trevor Fearing and Russell Beney but were unable to increase their advantage in the second round.

Hambro Cup semi-finals

Played at Halesworth Golf Club

IPSWICH 6

BUNGAY & WAVENEY VALLEY 0

Ipswich names first.

Morning

Ian Brown and Neil Meadows 3 Phil Vincent and Doug Muttitt 0

Paul Barnard and Jack Jowers 3 James Williams and Nairn Black 0.

Daniel Bryett and Gavin Richards 0 Alastair Hall and Mick Hills 5.

Ben Farthing and Graham Wardley 3 Robert Long and Dickon Housman 0.

Afternoon: Brown and Meadows 2 Vincent and Muttitt 0, Barnard and Jowers 0 Williams and Housman 2, Bryett and Richards 0 Hall and Hills 5, Farthing and Wardley 7 Black and Long 0.

FYNN VALLEY 11 SOUTHWOLD 0

Fynn Valley names first.

Morning

Aaron Bowen and Warren Goddard 2 Paul Booth and Russell Palmer 0.

Paul Dobson and Hugo Dobson 7 Jeremy Turner and Keith Hurr 0.

Chris Smith and Andy Munro 0 Sam Debenham and Paul Sherwood 2.

Bradley Wilkins and Daniel Hedges level with David Burrows and Jack Fountain.

Afternoon

Bowen and Goddard 2 Booth and Palmer 0, P Dobson and H Dobson 2 K Hurr and Carey Taylor 0, Smith and Munro 0 Debenham and Sherwood 5, Wilkins and Hedges 5 Burrows and Fountain 0.

Tolly Cobbold Cup

Played at Stowmarket Golf Club

FELIXSTOWE FERRY 12

BURY ST EDMUNDS 0

Felixstowe Ferry names first. Morning scores in brackets.

John Harrall and Glen Smart (3) 7 Steve Beahan and Phil Castle (0) 0.

Dave Bloom and Mike Thomas (level) 0 Colin Aves and Gareth Davies (level) 5.

Greg Rice and Mick Haddoch (6) 7 Luke Hayden and Simon Fletcher (0) 0.

Graham Cook and Chris Cook (4) 3 Martin Byford and Paul Newdick (0) 0.

STOKE BY NAYLAND 9

SECKFORD 0

Stoke by Nayland names first. Morning scores in brackets.

Roger Toone and Simon Larking (level) 3 Brian Baker and Ray Connett (level) 0.

Mike Verhelst and Gerry Day (2) level James Draycott and Graham Eastwell (0) level.

Duncan Hyams and Gary Borthwick (0) 1 Adrian Gipson and Steve Double (4) 0.

Mark Summers and Ian Donachy (5) 5 Trevor Fearing and Russell Beney (0) 0.