Yorkshire are well on their way to a showdown with Gloucestershire to decide the England Women’s County Championship at Felixstowe Ferry, writes Tony Garnett.

Suffolk took one and a half points off Yorkshire today, more than either Hampshire or Nottinghamshire had managed on the first two days.

Suffolk captain Vanessa Bell teamed up with county champion Alice Barlow to give Yorkshire their first taste of defeat. They beat Curtis Cup star Rochelle Morris and Melissa Wood in the foursomes.

The Suffolk pair eagled the second and birdied the third, fourth and fifth to get to four up. They went on to win 4 and 2.

Suffolk went into the singles trailing 2-1 just as they had done against Buckinghamshire the previous day. Taking points from singles matches against Yorkshire was a different matter although Lottie Whyman was leading until England international Olivia Winning birdied the 17th. It ended in a memorable half. Barlow’s unbeaten singles run came to an end against Welsh international Megan Lockett by a 3 and 2 margin.

Abbie Symonds, who had done well when given her chance on Tuesday, found Yorkshire’s junior captain Nicola Slater took strong.

Amanda Norman, who has been recalled to county golf on her home course with her sister Jo Woodward, was involved in the pressure final match against Buckinghamshire. She was all square after 15, won the 16th in par and then birdied the 17th to close out Suffolk’s victory.

Today she faced 14-year-old “pocket rocket” Mia Eales-Smith. By the closing stages it had become a dead rubber but it was an interesting contest in which youth beat experience 2 and 1.

Bell and Inglis took their matches to the 16th as Suffolk can now look forward to a match with Hampshire tomorrow which could go either way.

Hampshire’s former Curtis Cup player Kerry Smith has been picking up points. Yesterday their confidence will have been boosted by a 6-3 win over Nottinghamshire whom Suffolk meet in their final match.

Hampshire were three up after the foursomes. Suffolk cannot afford to give them such a good start.

The other matches tomorrow are Notts v Gloucester and Bucks versus Yorkshire.