HERTS ladies made a brilliant start to their bid to become the first champions of the newly-formed East Region with outstanding victories in their first two matches over the Links course at Newmarket. On Monday they accounted for Norfolk

HERTS ladies made a brilliant start to their bid to become the first champions of the newly-formed East Region with outstanding victories in their first two matches over the Links course at Newmarket.

On Monday they accounted for Norfolk without losing a match and on Tuesday, they were again in fine form as they beat Bedfordshire 6-3.

Against Norfolk they won every match except one and that was halved. They won the foursomes 3-0 and followed with five singles wins, and one halved for an overall margin of 81/2 to a half.

Foursomes wins came from Lucy Williams and Charlie Field 2&1, Alison Franklin and Harriet Key 3&2, Tina Jeary and Jackie Foster, one hole. Singles wins were by Hannah Burke, 5&4, Alison Franklin 5&4, Lucy Glyn 4&3, Charlie Field 3&1 and Harriet Key 2&1, with Lucy Williams halving her match.

In foursomes against Bedfordshire, Lucy Williams/Charlie Field halved, Steph McEvoy/Lucy Glyn won 6&4, and Jacki Foster/Tina Jeary won by one hole.

Singles wins came from Harriet Key 4&3, Charlie Field 5&4 and Steph McEvoy 7&5. Hannah Burke halved.

"The team performed very strongly against an experienced Norfolk side, and on Tuesday conditions were dreadful, with non-stop rain," said captain Jaki White.

On Wednesday they met Suffolk, on Thursday they meet Essex and on Friday meet Cambs/Hunts.

In other matches on Monday Cambs/Hunts beat Bedfordshire 6-3 and Essex beat Suffolk 61/2 to 21/2 and on Tuesday Suffolk beat Norfolk 6-3 and Essex beat Cambs/Hunts 81/2 to a half.

TOM BROWN (Harpenden Common) and Will Chambers (Mid Herts) came second and third at Letchworth to go through to the national finals of the English National Schools Championship at Kendleshire. Wih five counties represented the top ten qualified.

Tom had rounds of 74 73 and Will 76 71. Will is going into the under-16 national finals at Tankersley.