Lincolnshire clinched the Anglian League crown with their 9-3 victory over Suffolk at Newton Green, writes Tony Garnett.

Leicestershire were runners-up after a win at Glen Gorse that relegated front-running Northamptonshire to third place. Norfolk were fourth, Cambridgeshire fifth and Suffolk had to settle for a second successive season without a victory.

Although the margin of their success might have flattered Lincolnshire, they sunk vital long putts while Suffolk missed too many short ones. There was little between the teams off the tee but Lincolnshire’s short game was better overall.

The Suffolk star was Sam Debenham who was called in to add experience. He and county captain Jack Cardy won their foursomes. Suffolk’s singles wins came from Debenham and Calvin Sherwood who led from the front.

Debenham was three up after four holes against John Jarrel. It was tight at the end with Debenham, whose short game was superb, halving the last for a one up victory.

Sherwood finished strongly to beat Simon Richardson 2 and 1 but the other tight matches all went the way of the visitors.

Paul Waring chipped in at the 15th to be one down with three to play. He missed short putt on the 16th but won the 17th to take the match against Sam Done to the final hole at home, a half in par was enough for the Lincolnshire player.

It was a similar story for Nathan Overton who was also one down on the last tee and lost to Liam Bell when both players halved in par.

Cardy was wayward off the tee and found himself four down before the turn against Lincolnshire junior champion Will Hopkins. Cardy fought back to all square but then Hopkins threw in a couple of birdies to win the match.

John Driver’s challenge faded over the final holes while James Biggs was always fighting a losing battle.

Chris Duffy must wish his short game matched his prodigious length off the tee. In the foursomes he drove 353 yards, wind-assisted, on the 557-yard fourth hole which almost set up an eagle. A birdie was good enough.

Anglian League

At Newton Green.

Suffolk 3 Lincolnshire 9

Foursomes (Suffolk names first): Chris Duffy and Calvin Sherwood lost to Simon Richardson and John Jarrel 3 and 2; James Biggs and Paul Waring lost to Matt Haynes and Sam Done 4 and 3; Josh Driver and Nathan Overton lost to Alan Wainwright and Chris Haynes 2 and 1; Jack Cardy and Sam Debenham beat Liam Bell and Will Hopkins 4 and 3.

Singles: Sherwood beat Richardson 2 and 1; Waring lost to Done one down; Biggs lost to Wainwright 5 and 4; Driver lost to M Haynes 3 and 1; Cardy lost to Hopkins 3 and 2; Debenham beat Jarrel one up; Overton lost to Bell one down; Duffy lost to C Haynes 3 and 1.

The Suffolk second team, with three players making their debuts, played well in defeat against Lincolnshire on the Bracken Course at Woodhall Spa.

Suffolk finished at the foot of the table but there were grounds for optimism with juniors Alfie Halil and Louis Martin, as well as 19-year-old Adam Sheldrake, making a good impression.

In the foursomes Halil and Martin battled back from three down to salvage a half. In his singles Halil sunk a 10-foot putt on the 18th green to secure his half.

Lincolnshire 2nd 8 Suffolk 2nd 4

At Woodhall Spa (Bracken course):

Foursomes (Lincolnshire names first): Billy Wright and Leon Leaney beat Chris Bartrum and James Tyler 3 and 1; Jaime Kinnaird and Aaron Kay beat Jasper Johnson and Sam Byford 6 and 4; Lee Cardy and Harry Glenn halved with Alfie Halil and Louis Martin; Jack Diment and Jake Craddock beat Adam Sheldrake and Ben Sayers 4 and 3.

Singles: Leaney beat Bartrum one up; Kinnaird beat Tyler one up; Kay lost to Johnson 8 and 6; Wright lost to Byford 2 and 1; Craddock beat Sayers two up; Glenn lost to Sheldrake 6 and 4; Cardy beat Martin 2 and 1; Diment halved with Halil.