SECOND TEAM SEASON REPORT
Warwickshire away at Stonebridge golf club.
So first up was Warwickshire away at a very tricky and compact track which was ideal for match play. Being honest to play Warwickshire first up, who in my opinion are the strongest opposition in the league was not ideal, especially when we have 6 debutants, so with that said the boys knew what was facing them and we went into the match confident and with a togetherness. Foursomes went to plan in the morning winning a tight session 3-2, but I knew through experience that Warwickshire were very good singles players. Jack Sallis and Cameron Steadman got us off to a good start in the morning winning 2/1, Finn Nelson and Scott Krokoszynski won 4/3 and George Cordall and Malcolm Brown won 1 up. Afternoon singles, Jack Sallis got us off to a flying start winning 6/5, Cameron backed that up winning 1 up and Finn Nelson smashed his opponent 8/7.
All was going well.......then bang we lost our last four matches quiet convincingly, this left one player left on the course Scott Krokoszynski, he was 3 down with 6 to play, all the boys stayed out to support him even though we knew the result was not going to go in our favour. At this point I knew that we had a group of guys that cared for one another, Scott did not disappoint us, he came through and won 1 up, great work Scott.
After I could see how much it hurt the boys to lose, which was just what I wanted to see as a captain and I knew good things were to come.
Notts 7 Warwickshire 8
Hereford and Shropshire at home Wollaton Park
First home game at Wollaton, nice to play a course that we knew and I had a Notts team fired up and eager to show how good they were.
Foursomes in the morning session was near perfect 4-1.
Cameron and Isaac Walker were impressive winning 6/5, Finn and Lewis Parker, Sam Sanghera and Josh Turner, Ben West and Malcom were all winners in the Foresomes. The afternoon singles again a was near faultless, getting a 7-3 win. Finn again was impressive, Lewis the model Parker won as did Malcolm, Dean Reddington and Sam both won and got their first full point for the county, nice work boys. Ben West and Josh Turner on their Debuts won 1 1/2 points each, again fantastic work boys. Cameron won 6/5 which was our best singles win, well done Cam. Ben Marro was still chasing his first point but his attitude in the group was first class, supporting the boys and being super positive regardless. A special mention should go to Lewis the model Parker, his attitude and commitment was first class for me, after being dropped from the first team.
This result was what the boys needed.
Notts 11 Hereford and Shropshire 4
Staffordshire away at The Staffordshire.
Played on a tricky course away which equals a tough day, and so it proved to be regardless of how the score line will look.
Foursomes again near faultless 4-1. At this point, our group/players are all gelling so well and I felt as a captain I could put anyone together, and we would win, all I could see was the boys just wanting to win for each other. This side was coming together and it was oozing quality throughout, and at this point I felt we had a good chance of winning the league.
Singles in the afternoon was a close affair, this H/S side were strong and they had home advantage, we had four matches which were won 1 up, thankfully 3 of those were points for us. This again shown me that we had what it took when the chips were down. Ben West had the best singles result winning 5/3, Dean won 4/3, George Cordall, Malcolm, Sam Humpston and Mike White also won tight matches. Some special mentions for Mike, Sam and George, Mike was left out of the first team and again like Lewis gave me 100% and his attitude was first class. George Cordall the silent assassin got his first singles point even though he wasn't feeling too well !!!!, George was a product of our youth system at Notts and was fitting in to the group really well. Sam Humpston making his Notts debut at the tender age of 52, I think Sam last played county golf for .............. I can't bring myself to say it, but what I can say is it's next to our county border !!!!!!. I also think it's been 12 years since his last county match for the unmentionables, 2 points and a lot of experience, another great addition to our fantastic squad, thanks Sam. I also want to mention Tom Sanghera who came in last minute for me, travelling four hours to get to the venue, I think this shows how much it meant to him to help us out, he delivered 1 1/2 points on the day, thanks Tom all the team really appreciated your effort, top man.
This sadly was Finns last game before going to America On a scholarship, Finn for me has been a class act and has all the teams upmost respect, we all wish him well in America, Finn contributed 5 out of 6 points available this season.
Notts 10 1/2 Staffordshire 4 1/2
Worcestershire at home Chilwell Manor Golf Club
Foursomes this time was a close affair, Mitch Newton on his debut paired with Mike White won a close game, as did another debutant Anthony Wain and Dean Reddington. George and Malcolm won 4/3, so going into the afternoon we 3 -2 up.
Singles was a tight affair too, Chilwell is a great matchplay course as for those who have played the course will know, you can very easily come unstuck there. The course was playing firm and bouncy and at times could be tough to play, so there was some big wins and big losses in the afternoon. George had the biggest win in the singles 7/6, Dean also had an impressive win 7/5, but was done on this occasion by the silent assassin. There was also wins for Mitch, Mike,Jack Giles and Malcolm too. It was great to have Jack back amongst us after missing the first few games. Mitch was impressive as always on his debut winning 2 points, it's about time we had this talent playing county golf, if it wasn't for his work commitments Mitch would be a county regular for sure. It was great to get Anthony Wain in our squad, this guy brings with him a lot of county experience and adds more depth to our team welcome Mitch and Anthony.
Notts 9 Worcestershire 6
Derbyshire at home Radcliffe Golf Club
So after the Worcestershire game at Chilwell, we had the news that Warwickshire had lost away at Hereford and Shropshire, so it now meant that a win against the unmentionables would mean that we would win the league. So when I actually sat down and started to pick the team, on picking my 11, I must say this must be one of the strongest second teams to ever represent the county. All the players that were left out of the fixture would have been picked in teams gone by.
So here we go foursomes, as we have done throughout my time as captain, we won the foursomes 3 1/2 - 1 1/2 great start, there was wins for Mitch/Mike 6/5, Tom/Jack 5/3, George/Malcolm 3/2 and 1/2 from Sam/Cameron. Feeling confident going into the singles, but aware Derbyshire were dangerous and a good team who probably didn't get the results they deserved this year. We started well Mitch again won his singles, this meant he achieved 4 points in two matches, great work Mitch, now use some of your holidays for next years county matches!!!!!! Next one in with a win was Tom, again he got the team 3 1/2 points out of a possible 4 points, great work Tom. Then it was Mike he won 4/2 brilliant work from mr golf himself, he got us 6 points from a possible 6 points in 3 matches, superb return Mike. Brilliant open the cheap Champagne so we thought, but as we know it's never that simple, things went pair shaped and we started to falter, losses for Sam (ex sheep ......) Jack, Anthony, Malcolm and George, the unthinkable is now happening. Credit goes to Derbyshire their players played their hearts out, but we have to remember this is a local derby, what would be sweeter than beating your rivals and stopping them winning the league, so no team talk needed there. So back to the matches in hand,still two games on the course, Cameron and Dean, Cameron was 1 up at the time I caught up with him, he now knew the situation and with that he went on to win the match 4/3 nerves of steel, so now with that the match stood at 5-4 to Derbyshire, so over to Dean, the last I heard Dean was 3 down with 3 to play, now I thinking we have blown it, all that hard work down the pan, so it's looking like 7 1/2 - 7 1/2 draw which would probably mean that Warwickshire would win the league, so I had my head down walking towards Dean, he's got his head down too and looked like he was just about to lose, now if you know Dean he's a miserable looking lad at the best of times, glass half empty type, so when I get to him, his words to me was "hey up captain" and I replied "hey up Deano great effort" thinking his Match had gone, he then turns to me and says "there's a reason you put me out at number 10" I looked at him and he went on to say," call me the postman as I always deliver". I had been given the wrong information,Deano the now self proclaimed "˜postman' had delivered, he was 3 up with 3 to play and won 4/2, TOP MAN.
This was too close for comfort to say the least.
Notts 8 1/2 Derbyshire 6 1/2
I would like to send out a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who sent the team messages of support, who couldn't be with us, also a MASSIVE THANK YOU to the boys who wasn't picked but came out to Radcliffe to support us regardless, this was just pure class. We in the seconds have a great bond, a never say die attitude, a great will to win and a group who work as a team and support each other. It has been my absolute privilege to have been your captain for the last two years, BIG THANKS to all the union officials who have supported me and my team over the last two years. Now for the BIGGEST THANKS to go to all my squad, for all your support and commitment and not least of all the banter, you can now proudly call yourselves COUNTY CHAMPIONS.
Our next fixture is away at North Shore and Seacroft, this I think will turn out to be our toughest fixture, not sure partying hard and playing any sort of golf go hand in hand. Again congratulations to the team referred to as the UNDATEABLES.
Sincere thanks to everyone from your captain Malcolm Brown.
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