Losing 7 of the side who had played at South West Week to the Berkshire Trophy a depleted Wiltshire side nevertheless overcame Gloucestershire at Knowle to record their first win in the Channel League in 2011.
The morning foursomes went Wiltshire's way as Cumberwell pair, Ali James and James Hannam came home 4/2 winners followed by wins for Jordan Smith with Garry Slade, Broome pairing of Santino Vitale and Jason Beint and Vice Captain David Bauer playing with Danny Vallis. Only the Captain and Yoshio Takeuchi failed to win as Wiltshire led 4-1 at lunch.
In the singles, Ali James again led the way with a crushing 7/5 defeat of Gloucester's best player, Nick Day. This was Ali's 16th successive unbeaten match for Wiltshire, always playing at the top of the order, a brilliant record.
Having scored 5 of the first 6 points available Wiltshire only needed 3 more for the win but as each successive match came through the turn they were all down with the exception of Jason Beint who went on to win 2/1. Halves on the last hole by Jordan Smith, Yoshio Takeuchi and Santino Vitale meant the match could not be lost but it was the Captain who sealed the win with a bunker shot from a downhill lie over a steep face to within a foot of the hole on 17 for a 2/1 win.
Every member of the team contributed to a match played in a great spirit underlined when the Gloucestershire Captain led his players in a generous round of applause for the performance of the Wiltshire team on the day and at South West Week.
|
Wiltshire |
POINTS |
RESULT |
POINTS |
Gloucestershire |
|
FOURSOMES |
||||
|
Ali James + James Hannam |
1 |
4/2 |
Nick Day + Andy Hale |
|
|
Jordan Smith + Garry Slade |
1 |
3/2 |
Tom Workman + Sam Morgan |
|
|
Kevin Phillips + Yoshio Takeuchi |
2/1 |
1 |
David Lake + Paul Ryder |
|
|
Jason Beint + Santino Vitale |
1 |
5/4 |
Nigel Thompson + Jake Phillips |
|
|
David Bauer + Danny Vallis |
1 |
1 up |
Dave Wood + Bradley Selwood |
|
|
TOTAL |
4 |
1 |
|
|
|
SINGLES |
POINTS |
RESULT |
POINTS |
|
|
Ali James |
1 |
7/5 |
Nick Day |
|
|
James Hannam |
3/1 |
1 |
Tom Workman |
|
|
Jordan Smith |
½ |
A/S |
½ |
David Lake |
|
Garry Slade |
2/1 |
1 |
Andy Hale |
|
|
Yoshio Takeuchi |
½ |
A/S |
½ |
Paul Ryder |
|
Jason Beint |
1 |
2/1 |
Sam Morgan |
|
|
Santino Vitale |
½ |
A/S |
½ |
Nigel Thompson |
|
Danny Vallis |
2/1 |
1 |
Jake Phillips |
|
|
Kevin Phillips |
1 |
2/1 |
Bradley Selwood |
|
|
Dave Bauer |
3/2 |
1 |
Dave Wood |
|
|
TOTAL |
4 ½ |
5 ½ |
|
|
|
MATCH TOTAL |
8 ½ |
6 ½ |
|

