Looking for a second successive away win in Wales, proved a step too far for Cornwall yesterday as the county mens team slipped to a 10-5 Channel League defeat at the hands of Glamorgan who, it has to be said, outplayed the Duchy men on the day. At the well presented Glamorganshire Golf Club on a calm and sunny morning, the Cornwall Men's team without 3 of the South Western players took on a Glamorgan side riding high on their 2 previous wins against Devon and Gwent, it was always going to be tough test and the day would eventually turn out that way.

County Captain David Kneebone had to field a somewhat different team to that which played the SWCGA Championship a few weeks earlier, giving full debuts to Jamie Crocker (Truro) and junior Joe Reynard (Trevose). With established team members Josh Greenaway, Richard Jasper and Conor Wilson all missing it was always going to be a tall order for the Cornish team.

The morning foursomes though saw the Duchy team at least in touch with their Welsh opponents as they went to lunch just 3-2 down, needing then to claim at least 5.5 points from the available afternoon 10.

Joe Cruse and Tom Fox back together after Tom's venture to the Professional ranks, proved a positive pair, getting an early lead and building on it to win 4&3 to give us a great start to the day as they brought home their customary foursomes point defeating Kieron Harman and Jordan Price-Davies 4&3. The next three matches went the way of the Welsh as Ryan Curtis & Matt Richards, Crocker & Simon Hobbs and losing county championship finalist Jared Mortimore & Aaron Stephens all lost - 3&2, 5&4 and 3&1 respectively. Mortimore and Stephens had got their match back to all square through 11 and at that point things had looked pretty good for the Cornishmen. But after a run of birdies this put the Glamorgan pair in the box seat and they ran out winners 3&1,

It was left to the debutant Reynard in company with the dependable Rob MacGregor to bring home a point and to keep Cornwall in touch. Having got themselves to 3 up after 12 holes they closed their match out beating Tom Rees & Nick James 2&1. Before that the onlookers an players witnessed what makes matchplay golf such a good sport. MacGregor and Reynard were 2 up at the 10^th and safely on the green with their opponents in trouble, below the green in thick rough. Everyone thought 3 up was on the cards but we all know that golf can throw up the unexpected. Glamorgan player Tom Rees played an incredible shot that disappeared into the hole for a most unlikely 2 and with Rob's putt slipping by, the game was well and truly back in the balance at just 1 up. On the 15^th the Cornish pair were 2 up again. A mid iron from the Glamorgan pairing from 150yds to 5ft put the pressure back onto the talented young Joe, who stood up to be counted with a shot from the same distance to just inside3ft to keep the 2up lead. This lead would be kept through 16 and 17 eventually winning 2&1 giving Cornwalla better chance in the afternoon.

The afternoon singles did not go well for the Duchy as a team with Richards, Mortimore, Crocker, Reynard and Hobbs all going down early in their matches and never recovering. Richards was 3 down through 4 holes to a string of birdies and eventually lost by a 3&2 margin to Price-Davies. Mortimore whilst just 1 down through 4 homes then fell away to a heavy 8&6 defeat at the hands of Tom Williams. Crocker was 4 down through 8 to the experienced Ian Flower and eventually lost 4&3. Reynard was 3 down through 5 holes and lost 5&3 to Richard Hooper. Hobbs was 4 down through just 5 holes and he too lost his match, 4&2 to James.

Whilst these matches were ongoing the dependable Cruse delivered another point beating Harman 3&1 and Ryan Curtis having been 2 down through 5 fought hard to win at the last hole against Rhys Jones. Sandwiched between Cruse and Curtis was Fox, still battling to find the form we saw some 3 season ago and he was involved in a close encounter with Luke Thomas during which his fighting spirit was evident before losing at the last, 1 down. Aaron Stephens too showed fighting qualities as he went down 2&1 to another experienced welsh campaigner Brent O'Neill.

The after match speeches saw  The Glamorganshire Golf Club thanked for their welcome and for providing a great course and refreshments for the teams. The players on both sides were praised for the spirit in which the match was played. Captain Kneebone was philosophical in defeat. 'Yes it is a disappointing day but well done to Glamorgan. They were the better team today. The positive for the Cornwall team is the experience the young Junior players are gaining which will pay dividends in the future".

Glamorgan have now maintained a 100% record for their three matches played to date and sit atop the Channel League table. Cornwall currently sit in 5th place in the 7 county league.

Full Result

The next CL fixture for Cornwall is at home to Gloucestershire on Sunday 23rd July and takes place at Perranporth GC.