HERTFORDSHIRE made a great start as they bid to retain the Under 16s Home Counties league title when they won both matches at Richings Park last week. The Herts team were missing some of their star players with captain Luke Colgate, rested ahead

HERTFORDSHIRE made a great start as they bid to retain the Under 16s Home Counties league title when they won both matches at Richings Park last week.

The Herts team were missing some of their star players with captain Luke Colgate, rested ahead of the Under 18s EGU SE group County Qualifier and Will Chambers, Mark Hammond, Robbie Patterson playing in the SE Schools Championship at Letchworth. Josh Johnson was playing in the Faldo Series, so the squad was tested and the boys proved themselves to be up to the mark.

Herts had a great morning foursomes against Bedfordshire and BB & O to take a great advantage for the afternoon but it was nail biting as many of the singles matches, especially with BB & O, were very close. Herts eventually proved the stronger down the finishing straight with several matches going to the 18th green.

Not to lose a singles match to the hosts was a fine achievement and no one displayed the fighting spirit better than James Gough (West Herts) who won the last three holes from two down.

Sam Cutting (Berkhamsted) held off a tenacious opponent being 1 up over the closing holes and Callum Shinkwin (Porters Park) came back from 3 down to win 2 up. Marcus Fox (Harpenden Common) was 3 down with 4 to play and secured a half.

Herts beat Beds 11-1 and the stronger BB& O by 9.5 - 2.5 to gain maximum match points and top the league.