Seniors Win against Gwent

The Cornwall Seniors gained an important Channel League win yesterday as they defeated Gwent 10- 5 at Bowood Park GC.

[County Seniors Captain Paul Clahane reports]

Following the SWCGA Seniors Championship at Bristol & Clifton last month it was decided to make a few changes to the Cornish line up. What a result it produced with a solid Cornish win.

The morning greensomes started with wins for the first three pairings - Richard Simmons & David Kneebone winning 2&1 over Dave Bailey and Dave Jones, Guy Norris & Mark Blaber winning 3&2 over Rob Collett and Steve Morgan and Colin Kitt & Gary Stone winning 2&1 over Chris Hunt and Colin Watkins. Simon Knowles & Andy Rowe lost 2&1 to Geoff Cort and Gareth Jones before Richard Jones & Seniors Vice Captain Warwick Holland gained a half with Paul Molton and Mark Phillips. The lunchtime score was Cornwall 3.5 - 1.5 Gwent meaning 4.5 afternoon points were required.

With Rob Collett injured for Gwent a gentleman's half was agreed in his match with Holland. To be entirely fair to Gwent they put up a strong fight in a lot of the remaining 9 singles matches in which two were halved (Kitt with Molton and Kneebone with Cort). There were two handsome wins for the Duchy as Blaber despatched Dave Jones 7&6 and Stone beat Morgan 6&4.

Norris came to the 15th hole all square but then witnessed his opponent Bailey hit a second shot at the par 4 to a foot as he secured a birdie to go one up - a lead Bailey would not relinquish.

In the very next game onlookers witnessed Gwent's Colin Watkins hole his second shot at the 15th from some 160 yards to get one back on Richard Jones. Despite this Jones went on to register a 3&2 win for Cornwall. Playing in front of Kitt, Simon Knowles was beaten 2&1 by Hunt. Kitt's half had Cornwall on the 7.5 mark and with just three games left on the course no one was relaxing. 

In the end it came down to Cornish stalwart  - the Mr Dependable - Andy Rowe to get the team over the line and he did so with a 2&1 win over Phillips before Kneebone halved with Cort.  Richard Simmons then won on the 18th after being 1 down with 2 to play in his match with Gareth Jones. Simmons held his nerve with a greta 4 at the 17th to level things and then produced a stunning wedge approach to three feet at the 18th to win one up.

Clahane said 'Cornwall are beginning to challenge and fulfil their promise of late - well done to the team'.

Currently the Cornwall Seniors have played 4 matches and sit in 3rd place in the 7 county table behind leaders Devon and second placed Gloucestershire. Remaining matches for Cornwall are on 22nd August v Glamorgan, again at Bowood Park, and finally away to Somerset on 12th September at Oake Manor, nr Taunton. With Devon unbeaten in 4 the Duchy are aiming for at least a runners up spot.

Matchsheet

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