On Friday 24th September the County Seniors played their final league match of the 2021 season, played in glorious sunshine on the excellently presented Bedfordshire Golf Club course and as is always the case when we play our good friends from the combined counties a match played in a competitive but friendly spirit. Firstly I must thank those who stepped into the team at short notice when some last minute changes were necessary it was and always is greatly appreciated.

  We were led out on the day by Dickie Harris who continued his recent run of good form with a solid 4&3 win, this recent good form included a very creditable 9th place finish in the Senior Men’s Champions of Champions at Woodall on the 11th & 12th of September where he represented our County following his Seniors Championship win at Aspley Guise. Following Dickie in we had very good 4&2 wins for both Motty v Ian Oakes and Big Alan Kirby v old Bedfordian Ian Hull to give us the best possible start. Unfortunately Paul Sennett suffered a narrow 2&1 loss and Gareth Shorley lost the 18th to finish 1 down to an American which sort of set a trend for the weekend, In between these matches Nigel Gray making his first Senior league appearance had a difficult afternoon and lost to the very strong Gary Munford bringing the overall match back to 3-3. With the help of a few back 9 birdies I was able to overcome my opponent 4&3 and was followed in by Carmine who secured a 3&2 victory over Cliff Pearce, unfortunately Smudger and Kav’s both suffered defeats Steve to his old mate and someone he was playing with the following day and former Bedfordshire player Stoksey. This left the final match score at 5-5 a good result against a strong BB&O side but I know there was a level of disappointment in the team we couldn’t squeeze that extra 1/2 point for the win. So that ends the league season with a couple of away defeats followed by two very close keenly contested home fixtures with of course the very good oh so close 2nd place finish at the regional foursomes. We now turn our attention to the Rhea Trophy match v Cambridgeshire which I know all the lads are keen to win back following the narrow very wet loss of last year.