The CGU Cornwall County Men’s team could disappointingly only manage a draw in their home match against Wiltshire at West Cornwall GC yesterday and the result means the chances of retaining the Channel league title won last year remain in the hands of others.

The team had gone into the match knowing wins in their final two games would see them cling onto the title but events yesterday left them unlikely to achieve the ambition.

On a beautiful predominantly sunny golfing day that started with the nearby parish church bells ringing across a pristine links the Duchy team welcomed a Wiltshire side also in the running for the League title.

However the 5 morning foursomes did not go the way of Cornwall as the Wiltshire opposition rose to the occasion and delivered a significant blow with a 3.5 - 1.5 lunchtime lead which left the Cornish with a mountain to climb.

First out were Harry Hall and Rob MacGregor. With the pair’s recent track record and with Hall playing over his home course it was a surprise when they were beaten by the odd hole by Tom Law and the appropriately named James Wiltshire. The Perranporth duo of Conor Wilson and Chris Fleming lost 3&2 to Yoshio Takeuchi playing with Dave Hopkins and the same scoreline saw Richard Jasper and Joe Cruse beaten by Garry Slade and England International Jordan Smith. This meant the first three games had gone to Wiltshire. Cornwall reduced the deficit when Matt Richards and Josh Greenaway beat Jack Charman and Ali James 2&1. With Jon Hancock & Jack Mewton managing a half, against Wiltshire County Captain Pete Bicknell and Kerry Roberts, there was still all to play for but there were no illusions that gaining 6.5 points from the available 10 in the afternoon singles was going to be a tall order.

When the afternoon got underway the standout match featured Hall against Smith drawn together in the second game. A strangely out of sorts Hall was well beaten to the tune of 5&4 and when fellow home player Richards lost 2&1 to Ali James things looked bleak. However most of the home team found themselves up in their respective matches and the much needed fightback was on. Wins for Wilson (3&1), MacGregor (5&3), Jasper (1up), Hancock (3&2) and Fleming (7&6) suggested the comeback might just be achieved. However, as Greenaway delivered a further 2&1 win on the par 3 17^th win Cruse was facing a short putt on the 18^th in what would prove to be the decisive moment. Having won the 16^th hole to go 1 up Cruse lost the 17^th to a par. His drive on 18 found the right rough and the subsequent approach shot came out with little check and ran to the back of the green leaving a long putt to a front pin. His first putt was good and with his opponent in for a conceded par Cruse then missed and Wiltshire had gained an overall half point in the match. The only other game on the course at this point was the 10^th singles which went to the opposition as Mewton lost 3&2.

The result means a win for Cornwall in their final match away to Devon at Saunton next Sunday is a must and even then their fate would rest in the hands of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. Wiltshire are favourites to win the Channel League if they record a home victory against Glamorgan also next Sunday, barring Gloucestershire recording handsome victories in their remaining two away games.

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