Ipswich will meet Felixstowe Ferry in the final of the Stenson Shield, Suffolk’s scratch inter-club knockout, at Diss on September 12.

Ipswich overcame Woodbridge by one point in a tense match at Halesworth while Felixstowe overcame Haverhill by 10 and a half to one and a half at Stowmarket which was a flattering margin of victory with so many matches being settled on the 18th green.

It was looking promising for Woodbridge at lunch. Dominic Rosser and Ricky Dzierozynski beat James Tyler and Warren Goddard in the top foursomes while Nathan Overton and Toby Ayles beat Paul Barnard and Shaun Gordon in the fourth game.

Josh Cottrell and Connor James held the strongest Woodbridge pairing, Robert Salter and Monty Scowsill, to a half. Juniors Gregor Tait and Jack Phillips beat Simon Peckford and Jasper Johnson 5 and 4.

Ipswich introduced Sam Byford and Jordan Nelli for the singles in place of Tyler and Goddard. This proved to be a master stroke.

Key results were Salter’s 2 and 1 win over Gordon, a former champion at North Berwick, for Woodbridge and the one-hole win for Phillips over Scowsill which was crucial for Ipswich.

The final game, on which the tie eventually depended, was between Woodbridge team captain Overton and Nelli. The Ipswich player beat the Suffolk county captain 3 and 2.

Felixstowe Ferry’s margin of victory was harsh on Haverhill who lost a succession of singles matches on the last green.

Haverhill won the top foursomes when Chris Vince and Lewis Whiting beat Paul Waring and Ben Sayers one up. Felixstowe held an early three-hole lead. Haverhill pegged them back to be two up with three to play. It was settled on the 18th. Waring’s tee shot found the right edge of the green while Whiting put his to within six feet. Ben Sayers’ long birdie putt was close but Vince was able to lag up to secure the half he needed.

The second foursomes also hung in the balance until the end. Haverhill’s young team captain Liam Merritt and Jack Bligh held a two-hole lead for a long time. Neil Meadows and John Blackmore turned the tables with successive birdies but Haverhill also had birdies on the 16th and 17th to take the match all the way.