County qualify for the Anglian League Boys’ Final

LEICESTERSHIRE and Rutland county boys’ have qualified for the Anglian League Boys’ final later this month after winning the three-cornered West final at Collingtree Park GC.

The final will be held at Kirby Muxloe GC when they take on the East region winners.

At Collingtree Park in the Anglian League West qualifying tournament, Leicestershire and Rutland made an excellent start. They had a tally of 5 points from the foursomes clashes, just clear of hosts Northamptonshire on 4.5, with Lincolnshire on 2.5 third.

So this set up an exciting second round.

In these games, the county scored 10 points, Northamptonshire had 6 wins, Lincolnshire 7, giving an overall win for Leicestershire and Rutland of 15 points. Northamptonshire on 11 pts were runners-up, and Lincolnshire on 10 pts finished third.

There were several outstanding performances by the county boys, but everyone contributed to this achievement. It follows on from the county winning the Midland championship earlier in the season and going through to the England final for the first time in their history.

County president Phil Askew (Rothley Park) said: “This was another tremendous win by the boys. Well done to them all.

“Thanks and praise goes to county junior organiser Mick Billingham, to the coaches too, to team manager Gary Haines and, of course, to parents.

“They have all helped to create great memories and I hope we will have great support now in the final.”

In the foursomes Sam Haynes-Coote (Kibworth), the captain, and Miller Durham (Cosby) were all square with Lincolnshire, but beat Northamptonshire 3 and 2, Frazer Jones (Kirby Muxloe) and Charlie Box (Beedles Lake) beat Lincolnshire 4 and 3, halved with Northamptonshire, Finn Dobson (The Leicestershire), Morgan Cresswell (Luffenham Heath) lost both, Will Plant, Ethan Bell (both Cosby) won both beat Lincolnshire by 4 and 3, Northamptonshire by 4 and 2.

Singles: Haynes-Coote lost both – Lincs 6 and 5, Northants 3 and 1, Durham won both – Lincs 2 and 1, Northants 6 and 4. Jones won both – Lincs 5 and 4, Northants 2 and 1, Box won both – Lincs 3 and 2, Northants 2 and 1, Dobson lost both – Lincs 2 and 1, Northants 3 and 1, Cresswell lost both – Lincs 7 and 6, Northants 5 and 4, Plant won both – both by 2 and 1 margins, Bell won both – both by 4 and 3 margins.