LINCOLNSHIRE have emerged as Suffolk's closest rivals in the Anglian League this year.Lincolnshire beat Cambridgeshire by seven-and-a- half matches to four-and-a-half at Kenwick Park on Sunday and are only a single point behind Suffolk.

By Tony Garnett

LINCOLNSHIRE have emerged as Suffolk's closest rivals in the Anglian League this year.

Lincolnshire beat Cambridgeshire by seven-and-a- half matches to four-and-a-half at Kenwick Park on Sunday and are only a single point behind Suffolk. These teams meet in the final match of the season at Hintlesham on September 9.

Leicestershire suffered a surprise home defeat at the hands of Norfolk at Stapleford Park at Melton Mowbray by six-and-a-half matches to five-and-a-half. Leicestershire were missing two of their top players, Jason Palmer and Neil Chaudhuri, who were playing in the Tillman Trophy at Wentworth over the weekend.

Leicestershire will be representing the Midlands in the County Championship finals at Cleveland Golf Club on September 28, 29 and 30.

Suffolk's next match is against Leicestershire at Luffenham Heath on August 5 which could prove to be a tough test if Leicestershire's top players are available.

The Suffolk second team drew 6-6 with Northants seconds at Peterborough Milton Golf Club, set in the grounds of a former stately home.

Suffolk might well have won had Rhodri Harston (Felixstowe Ferry) not become unwell overnight. It proved impossible to secure a replacement at such short notice so team captain Dean Brace, deputising for Alan Middle, had to play.

Suffolk won the top two foursomes and there were good singles wins for Owen Pearl, Tom Wright, Hugo Dobson and David Quinney.

Northamptonshire 2nds 6 Suffolk 2nds 6

At Peterborough Milton Golf Club (Northants names first)

Foursomes: Ronnie McIlwain & Lee Foster lost to Andy Collett (Bury St Edmunds) & Paul Dobson (Fynn Valley) 3 & 2.

Matt Bearman & Luke Essex lost to Hugo Dobson (Fynn Valley) & Owen Pearl (Stoke by Nayland) one down.

Tom Peach & Andy Myers beat David Quinney (Haverhill) & Tom Wright (Rushmere) two up.

Graham Bott & Tom Burgh beat Rob Murray & Dean Brace (Stoke by Nayland) one up.

Singles: Bearman lost to Pearl 4 & 3, Myers bt P Dobson one up, Essex lost to Wright 5 & 4, Foster bt Collett 3 & 2, McIlwain lost to H Dobson one down, Peach bt Murray 7 & 6, Burgh lost to Quinney 3 & 1, Bott bt Brace 5 & 4.