GolfMICHAEL Swan, one of Stoke-by-Nayland's successful juniors, made a spectacular county first team debut for Suffolk in the Anglian League against Northamptonshire at Church Brampton, the Northants County Golf Club.

Golf

MICHAEL Swan, one of Stoke-by-Nayland's successful juniors, made a spectacular county first team debut for Suffolk in the Anglian League against Northamptonshire at Church Brampton, the Northants County Golf Club.

In the morning he helped Bradley Wilkins to a narrow victory in the foursomes over Fraser Carnihan and Adam Myers, the winner of the McGregor Trophy last year. In the afternoon Swan swept aside the challenge of Simon Williams 8 and 6.

Suffolk captain Martin Youngs was delighted with the away victory by eight matches to four.

As the second teams drew 6-6 at Haverhill, Suffolk regained the Martin Izzard Salver for the overall result for the first time in several years.

Suffolk led 3-1 after the foursomes. Alex Holmes, the new county champion, partnered Scott Brace to a 4 and 3 success over Tony Lord and Neil Connolly. It was a splendid result because Connolly is one of the leading players in the Anglian League and scored a singles victory over Lincolnshire's England player James Crampton last month.

Will Wright played with Jamie Abbott, beating Dan Wood and Matt Bird 2 and 1. The only slip came with the defeat of Matt Fordham and Chris Smith, who also lost their singles.

Results

Northamptonshire 4

Suffolk 8

At Church Brampton (Northants County GC)

Foursomes (Northants names first):

Tony Lord and Neil Connolly lost to Alex Holmes (Gorleston) and Scott Brace (Stoke-by-Nayland).

Dan Wood and Matt Bird lost to Will Wright (Rushmere) and Jamie Abbott (Fynn Valley).

Simon Williams and Stuart Ashwood beat Matt Fordham (Bury St Edmunds) and Chris Smith (Fynn Valley) 2 and 1.

Fraser Carnihan and Adam Myers lost to Michael Swan (Stoke-by-Nayland) and Bradley Wilkins (Fynn Valley) one down.

Singles: Connolly beat Holmes 3 and 2, Lord lost to Wright 4 and 3, Wood beat Fordham 4 and 3, Bird lost to S Brace 4 and 2, Williams lost to Swan 8 and 6, Ashwood lost to Wilkins 2 and 1, Smith lost to Carnihan 4 and 3, Abbott beat Myers 4 and 3.

The second team drew at Haverhill and were thankful for the battling qualities of another Stoke-by-Nayland junior, Rob Murray, who was a late call-up after Warren Goddard had withdrawn.

Murray was one down with two to play against Northants captain Dominic Jessup but won the final two holes to score a vital victory.

Kevin Eagle and Rhodri Harston came away with a maximum two points while Liam Brace had a good singles win. Dean Fairweather and Andy Collett both drew a blank.

Results

Suffolk 2nd 6

Northants 2nd 6

At Haverhill.

Foursomes (Suffolk names first):

Andy Collett and Dean Fairweather (both Bury St Edmunds) lost to Ryan Evans and Jeremy Creffield 4 and 2.

Kevin Eagle and Alan Middle (both Rushmere) beat Richard Brown and Matt Bearman 2 and 1.

Rhodri Harston (Felixstowe) and Hugo Dobson (Fynn Valley) beat Ray Connolly and Andy Myers 4 and 3.

Liam Brace and Rob Murray (both Stoke by Nayland) lost to Dominic Jessup and Matt Morgan 4 and 3.

Singles: Fairweather lost to Evans 2 and 1, Eagle beat Creffield 3 and 2, Harston beat Brown 3 and 2, Dobson lost to Myers 7 and 6, Middle lost to Bearman 3 and 1, L Brace beat Morgan 4 and 3, Murray beat Jessup one up, Collett lost to Connolly 3 and 2.