WHEN victory seemed in their grasp in the opening league match of the season, Herts county team were left to ponder where it went wrong as Middlesex turned the tables to run out winners by 6. points to 5. at Brocket Hall. Winning the foursomes 3-1

WHEN victory seemed in their grasp in the opening league match of the season, Herts county team were left to ponder where it went wrong as Middlesex turned the tables to run out winners by 61/2 points to 51/2 at Brocket Hall.

Winning the foursomes 3-1 followed by two singles wins and a half, Herts needed only one more point from the last five games, but Middlesex claimed them all.

Weatherwise it was a repeat of the previous year, with pouring rain, some flooded fairways and bunkers, but Herts responded well, with foursomes wins for James York/Greg Schmidt by 2&1, Tom Shadbolt/Laurence Allen, one hole, and James Watts/Matt Wallace, two holes.

With the weather improving, Tom Shadbolt gave Herts a flying start to the singles, winning 7&5, and Greg Schmidt followed with a 4&3 margin, as captain James York claimed a half to give them 51/2 points. Sadly, the one point needed was denied them, with Glen Portelli, losing on the 18th, and James Watts and Matt Wallace, both beaten on the 17th, claiming the closest margins.

Herts now face winning their next three matches and hoping, like last year, that will be good enough to win the league.

That defeat followed a disappointing weekend at the Eastern Counties Foursomes at Seacroft where, after a promising start, Herts for the second year were left with the wooden spoon. On a positive note, only seven points separated all nine counties and of the 10 players representing Herts, seven were newcomers, the experience serving them well.