| Date: | 26th September 2008 |
| Venue: | Hunstanton G.C. and R.West Norfolk G.C. |
GRAFTON MORRISH 2008
Report from Richard Partridge
Tonbridge fielded their strongest team for many a year in order to try to capture this difficult and illusive prize. Captain, Mike Hall was unable to attend as he was supposedly delivering his first born, a baby boy - congratulations.
Our fog delayed 8am first round encounter against The Leys on a beautiful morning at Brancaster went without too much of a hitch enabling us to secure a 2½-½ victory. Brancaster as usual was in tremendous condition, and it was a real joy to be out on such a magnificent links, in great condition and beautiful flat greens.
C Lloyd and R Partridge ½
J Spurling and J Horn won 2/1
B Ingleby and G Clay won 6/5
Result Tonbridge beat The Leys by 2½-½
All matches in the Grafton are difficult, most teams are able to produce 3 solid pairs, and you have to play well to succeed. Quality sides such as Bradfield, Watsons and Whitgift all lost in the first round.
We were matched for the afternoon dual at Hunstanton against George Heriots, who have won the competition 4 times and been runners up twice in the last 10 years.
They were also fielding their winning Queen Elizabeth Trophy side from the previous week, a competition they hadn’t won for 26 years.
We knew that all 3 pairs needed to play well in order to progress. By the time we reached the 10th tee, Clay and Ingleby were one up, Partridge/Lloyd and Spurling/Horn were both all square. The match was as tight as they come, and Tonbridge were striking the ball tee to green quite majestically.
The George Heriots’ pairings were battling hard, and although not striking the ball as well, were chipping and putting to perfection, and the Tonbridge pairs were not able to convert their advantage.
The top pair of Clay/Ingleby lost their 1 hole advantage at the 10th, and then lost the 11th and 12th to birdies, and were never able to recover the situation, albeit playing solid par golf to its conclusion.
Partridge/Lloyd could never break the deadlock and the Heriots 2nd pair, although hitting the occasional poor shot, chipped and single putted on 9 separate occasions including the last 4 holes. Nobody gets up and down from the right hand side of the 18th at Hunstanton with the pin tucked hard against the bank, they did – the match was halved.
The Spurling/Horn combo also suffered from the same Heriots strategy with 8 "up and downs" against them and lost on the 17th to yet another.
Charterhouse and Eton also joined us as the "vanquished" in the second round.
Solihull went on to win the final 2/1 against Birkenhead.
The Tonbridge side can certainly be happy with their ball striking ability and general shot making, but playing "pretty golf" unfortunately doesn’t necessarily win golf matches.
No more "sprogs" next year Mike Hall, it’s back to you.
G Clay and B Ingleby lost 2/1
C Lloyd and R Partridge ½
J Spurling and J Horn lost 2/1
Result Tonbridge Lost to George Heriot's by 2½ - ½