U16 Triangular Match At Druids Heath 5 8 19

U16 Triangular match at Druids Heath 5.8.19

Sam Rowbottom, Mark Hewlett and James Ilsley in action at Druids Heath - 5th August 2019

Pictured (l-r) Roger Martin (Team Manager) James Ilsley, Sam Rowbottom, Phil Krone, Louie Stott (Captain), Santino Francolini, Tom Lennon, Elliot Jones, James Humphries, Mark Hewlett & Will Chater.

The annual tri-angular match between the U16 Boys from Worcestershire, Staffordshire and Shropshire & Herefordshire took place at a beautifully presented Druids Heath GC on Monday 5th August 2019. The format of the day involves 6 boys playing foursomes in each morning match, with each of the counties effectively playing two matches at the same time, with the same format used in the afternoon singles, with 3 boys playing together, playing against both of the other boys in his group! Keeping up with the scores in each match can be very confusing.

Whilst there is a trophy for the team winning the most points on the day, effectively, the boys are playing two standard matches (morning foursomes and afternoon singles).

After a team briefing, our very young, but enthusiastic team set out on the morning foursomes in good spirits. At lunch we were all square against Staffordshire (2.5 each) with good wins for Louie Stott & Sam Rowbottom and Elliot Jones & Tom Lennon, and a fighting halve point from Santino Francolini & Will Chater. Unfortunately the lucnh time score in the match against a very strong S&H side was 0.5 - 4.5, with a great halve point from Mark Hewlett & Phil Krone.

In the afternoon singles, most of our team were playing much stronger players on paper, and this was reflected in the scores. However, everyone learnt from the day and will all be better players for the experience gained.

However, there were a few great results, with Sam Rowbottom winning his singles against Staffordshire 7&5, but the star performance came from Mark Hewlett who won both of his afternoon singles matches, by 4&2 and 1up, including a very calm 3 footer on the last to win.

At this time of year the matches come thick and fast, and the next U16 match is on Sunday 11th at Stratford Park GC, against Warwickshire.