NEW Wiltshire captain Dave Bauer has targeted a successful defence of the County Championship title in 2012 after celebrating his first match at the helm with victory.

Bauer’s side defeated Cornwall 8-7 in their opening Channel League fixture at the Cumberwell Park club near Bradford on Avon on Sunday to get their campaign off to a flying start.

Bauer has stepped up from the vice-captain’s role under last year’s skipper Kevin Phillips and has a tough act to follow after the county’s stunning national success last September.

But Wiltshire have retained the players who earned that win and Marlborough player Bauer is hopeful of another successful summer.

Cumberwell will host South West Week in June, the winners of which move into the County Championship finals.

Bauer, 32, said: “To win it back to back would be incredible but I don’t see why we can’t have a good go at it this year.

“We’ve retained the players from last year and we have a lot of other players coming through.

“After winning the finals last year, it’s a massive act to follow but we’ve done very well in recent years.’’ Bauer, who works for an event production company in Swindon, said: “Being captain is a great honour and I’m quite fortunate because we have so many good players."

The victory over Cornwall was a see-saw affair. The home side got the better of tight morning foursomes matches, the Cumberwell pair of Ali and Charlie James leading the way, winning their final three holes to win two up.

Wins for Garry Slade and new cap Chris Stewart and Paul Green and Yoshio Takeuchi, plus two halves, gave the county a 4-1 lead.

Cornwall roared back in the afternoon singles, winning five of the first seven games to stand on the brink of victory at 7-5.

But wins from the last three players, Tom Ruddle, Jason Beint and Green, secured the home side victory.

  • THE Wiltshire Seniors Scratch Winter League has been won by Marlborough for the third time in four seasons.

Mick Green and his team lost only one match, which was the visit to Hamptworth.

Green said: “it has been a great team effort this year with everyone contributing throughout.

“Well done to all those who have helped me make it a winning team, that's Hugh Crossan, Geoff Laney, Dave Lewis, Alf Norman-Thorpe, Derek Perkins, Guy Piercy, Rod Trimboy and Brian Wood.”

Marlborough have also succeeded in winning the inaugural Seniors Inter Club Winter Trophy for players of 60 and over with a handicap between 0-18.

This was a competition devised by Graham Jefferies, a past seniors captain at Marlborough.

The final was contested by Marlborough and Ogbourne Downs over 36 holes, 18 at Marlborough and 18 at Ogbourne, and Marlborough took an overwhelming 7-1 victory.

Marlborough seniors captain John Sprules would like to thank his winter squad of Barrie Reardon Smith, Grant Talman, Mike Courtney, Graham Daws, Dave Ferris, Gordon Buckett, Phil Smith, Hugh Crossan, Brian Wood and Graham Jefferies.

He added: “We play 38 matches throughout the summer and then it goes a bit flat, so this has prolonged our competitive spirit a little longer. We look forward to next year.”