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Wiltshire make winning start
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| Wiltshire captain Alistair James |
WILTSHIRE made a splendid start to their Daily Telegraph Channel League campaign with a convincing 91/2-51/2 victory over Glamorgan at Cumberwell Park, writes Ernie Newell.
After the foursomes has been shared 2.5-2.5, Wiltshire, wooden spoonists last year and playing their first match under the captaincy of Alistair James (Cumberwell Park), won six of the 10 singles and halved two of the other four to stamp their control on the fixture.
James, 25 and Wiltshire's youngest-ever skipper, was the most successful player for the county in matchplay events last year - and he continued his sparkling form with an undefeated 11/2-point performance.
He joined forces with Broome Manor captain Kevin Phillips to halve the top foursomes with Luke Thomas and Greg Williams and then started his side's domination of the singles with a thumping six-birdie seven and six victory over Thomas.
Phillips also chalked up 11/2 points, winning his single against Williams by four and three.
James gave his brother Charlie and new Wiltshire boys' champion Jordan Smith their first taste of league action at the Bradford-on-Avon club and they found it to their liking.
Both turned in full points. Charlie James teamed up with Cumberwell club-mate Matt Swales for a five and four foursomes win over James Frazer and Nick James and then defeated Frazer in the singles by four and three.
Smith, 15, from Bowood, linked up with ex-county captain Mike White (West Wilts) for a two and one foursomes victory over Chris O'Neill and Brent O'Neill and then tied up his single against Chris O'Neill on the 13th green.
White, who had a clear-cut five and four victory over Richard Evans in the singles, also emerged from the match with maximum points.
Hamptworth youngster Ben Stow also made a winning debut.
Called up as an 11th-hour replacement for South Wilts' Sam Elkins, the 16-year-old lost his foursomes with Richard Scarrott (Wrag Barn) but squeezed to a last-hole victory in the singles over Nick James.
"It was a superb start to what could be an extremely successful season," said Wiltshire skipper Alistair James.
"There were great performances from some of the experienced players who were recalled to the team and an extremely promising start to the county careers of the younger members of the side."
Foursomes: Alistair James (Cumberwell Park) and Kevin Phillips (Broome Manor) halved with Luke Thomas and Greg Williams; Jeremy Tomlinson (Marlborough) and Jack Hiscock (Marlborough) lost to Richard Hooper and J Holmes 2/1; Matt Swales (Cumberwell Park) and Charlie James (Cumberwell Park) beat James Frazer and Nick James 5/4; Mike White (West Wilts) and Jordan Smith (Bowood) beat Chris O'Neill and Brent O'Neill 2/1; Richard Scarrott (Wrag Barn) and Ben Stow (Hamptworth) lost to Richard Evans and Jonathan Bale 2/1.
Singles: A James beat Thomas 7/6; Swales lost to Hooper 2/1; Phillips beat Williams 4/3; C James beat Frazer 4/3; Scarrott halved with Holmes; Stow beat N James 1 up; Smith beat C O'Neill 6/5; Hiscock lost to B O'Neill 2/1; Tomlinson halved with Bale; White beat Evans 5/4.
Wiltshire's next league match is against Cornwall at Bowood on Sunday, May 11.
10:30am Saturday 26th April 2008
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