First team hit back to seal victory in friendly

THE county first team golfers won their first inter-county match – a friendly – at Lutterworth on Sunday.

But it was restricted to only 15 holes – the games all started on the fourth hole – because of the recent wet weather which caused the first three holes to be unavailable.

The second team clash at Rugby was cancelled because the whole course was unplayable.

The firsts trailed 2-3 after the opening foursomes, but they bounced back to take the singles 6.5-3.5.

County captain John Fairbrother (Cosby) said: “We were very pleased to start our season.

“It has been extremely difficult so far this year, but we hope to have some much better weather from now on.

“Two men made their debuts for the first team – Ross Murgatroyd (Cosby), who has just completed his time at university, and Matt Wylie (Rothley Park), who has a low handicap, but will not be always available to play for us because of career demands.”

Scott Wormleighton (Rothley Park) and Freddie Macarthur (Ullesthorpe Court) won the top foursomes by 2 and 1, and James Billingham and Will Plant (both Cosby) the second by 4 and 3. Three of them were full points scorers.

Wormleighton won at the top in the singles 3 and 2, Macarthur 2 and 1, Billingham 3 and 2, and Will Plant halved at No.3.

There were also singles wins for Chris Brook (Hinckley), who was in fine form beating Warren Bladon by a decisive 8 and 6 margin.

Josh Hayes (Hinckley) won by 3 and 1 and Liam Plant (Cosby) – Will’s father – was a 2 and 1 winner.

Meanwhile, the county golf Alliance meeting due to be held today at Cosby was cancelled due to the condition of the course.

This follows the disappointment of yet another tournament being cancelled last week at Birstall during the recent spell of intense wet weather. Many Alliance events have been affected.

Conditions have been extremely difficult again for golf, with so many local courses, as well as others in the region, suffering.

The next tournament is due to be held at Market Harborough on April 4.

That will be followed by the climax to the 2023/24 season, the Alliance championships, set to be contested at Rothley Park on April 11.

But it all depends on the weather if the Alliance programme can be completed as planned.