IPSWICH and Rushmere, the holders, will meet on neutral territory in the semi-final of the Hambro Cup on July 23. The other semi-final will be between Hintlesham and a spirited Thorpeness team who battled back from an eight-hole lunch deficit to win by four at Diss.

IPSWICH and Rushmere, the holders, will meet on neutral territory in the semi-final of the Hambro Cup on July 23.

The other semi-final will be between Hintlesham and a spirited Thorpeness team who battled back from an eight-hole lunch deficit to win by four at Diss.

Ipswich scored the win of the day at Gorleston while Rushmere's home win over Aldeburgh proved to be far easier than anticipated.

Gorleston captain Kevin Woods was full of praise for the Ipswich performance and was especially impressed by the play of Rob Pritchard and Will Shaw.

A key to the Ipswich success was the winning partnership of Paul Barnard, a former Suffolk county champion, and young Jack Jowers. In the morning, they ended six up against Stephen Crosby and John Maddock who have years of experience of top level amateur golf between them.

Gorleston shuffled their pack for the afternoon with different pairings, only Ray Thompson and Danny Western staying together. This produced improvement, but not enough to claw back the eight-hole lunchtime deficit.

Rushmere were without Michael Buck because of a back injury, and Joe Simpson, who was on holiday, but they were never in trouble against an Aldeburgh team unable to show the form that enabled them to overcome a powerful Fynn Valley team in the previous round.

Every Rushmere pair was successful. Kevin Eagle and Peter Robinson led the way against James Reiss and Christo Lloyd, being five up on the day. Curtis Mann and Ross Howard enjoyed a similar margin of victory.

Ben Tawell, making his Hambro debut with the solid James Wright as his partner, beat Logan Mair and John Wybar who were runners up in the Suffolk amateur foursomes.

Alex Stanley and Roger Taylor were level with Alan Middle and Shaun Masterson in the morning but even they slipped to defeat in the afternoon.

Hintlesham recorded the biggest win of the day. They took full advantage of a home draw to end 24 holes to the good. Andy Cunningham and Trevor Hellyer clicked as a partnership with an afternoon round of 66 to beat Phil Vincent and James Williams by four holes in a quality match.

Scott Vandervord, back from Exeter University, and the left-handed Phil Westley overcame Dickon Housman and Nairn Black by five holes in the morning.

They faced Paul Whiting and Doug Muttitt in the afternoon but it ended in Hintlesham's favour once again by five holes.

The closest match was between Nigel Redding and Joe Cardy who ended three up on the day against debut-making teenager Alistair Hall and Robert Long.

Thorpeness were eight down at lunch at Diss but there was no sign of a white flag being raised. Team captain Ray Foreman made tactical switches for the afternoon that saw his team turn the tables.

Peter Cooney sank a sand wedge from 120 yards at the 16th hole in the afternoon which was a terrific boost to the Thorpeness recovery. Diss youngsters Mark Farrow and Guy Griffiths were seven up against Jamie Philpot and Cooney in the morning.

In the afternoon, they faced Richard Newton and Gavin Stroud and ended three down. Jason Sewell and Doug Trudgill had overcome Newton and Stroud in the morning by six but ended level with Philpot and Cooney in the afternoon.

Richard Baker and James Brinded were eight up on the day against Richard Cook and Tom Bailey while Thorpeness also needed Ivan Fryer and Mark Henderson's six-hole haul against Kevin Halil and Archie Moore in the afternoon. The Tolly Cobbold Cup quarter-finals produced a gripping match between Aldeburgh and Rushmere on lightning fast greens. The home side were one ahead at lunch but Rushmere's Rob Dale and Steve Cook, their only winning pair, were the stars of a two-hole Rushmere win.

Stoke-by-Nayland proved too powerful for Fynn Valley round the Constable course. The match ended to the rhythm of a jazz band which was entertaining celebrities after the pro-am on the Gainsborough course as a prelude to the PGA Europro Tour event at the club that ends on Thursday.

Cretingham were never in trouble against Rookery Park, with Richard Lawson and Martin Grayling ending 11 up on the day. Jake Taylor and Mel Harradine were seven up which suggests that it could be a close semi-final with a Thorpeness team, who beat Diss by 17 holes.

The first two matches cancelled each other out both resulting in 10-hole wins. Jack Thorp and Martin Youngs were successful for Thorpeness while Peter Griffiths and Chris Bartrum hit back for Diss.

JASON Levermore of Clacton is in the first group on the first tee at 7.15 today on the Bartercard Stoke-by-Nayland International PGA Europro event on the Gainsborough course.

Other early starters include Justin Brown (Gosfield Lake) and Paul Curry, who won the event a year ago. Curry, former European Tour and United States PGA Tour player, is on his annual visit from Florida.

Simon Harrison of Thorpeness starts at 8.40 and Andrew Tokley, representing the home club, at 9.15. Sunday's celebrity pro-am was won by Neil Walker at six under par.