South West Week 2023, Day 1...The Miracle in The Mist

Day 1 of South West Week dawned still, sultry and overcast, the blistering sun and gusty winds of the practice day seemingly a distant memory.

The Tractor Boys began their 2023 campaign against traditional powerhouses Gloucestershire, with a team of 4 SW Week debutants and 4 slightly 'longer in the tooth' combatants. The format is simple - 8 singles in the morning, worth 1 point each and 4 Foursomes after lunch, worth 1.5 points. First team to 7.5 is the winner.

Gloucestershire started strongly with Jake Phillips and Louis Ross recording 2 & 1 wins over Captain Ali James and new boy Tom Scullion. Wins for 17 year-old Lewy Hayward and slightly older Garry Slade levelled things up at 2-2, but by the time Tom Law arrived on the 17th tee 2 up in his game, Gloucestershire had built up a 5-2 advantage. Surely, 5-3 at lunch would be a fair result...however, Long Ashton's Nathan Moore had other ideas and a birdie/eagle finish saw Gloucestershire 5.5-2.5 in the lead at the break.

However, the mist rolled in and play was suspended for 90 minutes - plenty of time for contemplation and motivation of the troops.

The strange weather conditions did not reveal Brigadoon (one for the oldies there), but it did change the whole tenor of the match. Out 4, Cumberwell Park pair Johnny Grace and Ellis Bright hit their opponents with a birdie blitz, and were 4 up through 4. They were never headed and ran out 4 & 3 winners. Second out Tom Law (Broome Manor) and Tom Scullion (Upavon) were always in control (at least that's what they told me), winning on the 17th. Freddie Titcombe (Broome Manor) & Lewy Hayward came from 1 down after 14 to again win on 17, and it was down to Captain Ali James and veteran Garry Slade to administer the coup de gras with a 1 up win on 18.

So, a 4-0 win in the afternoon foursomes, giving an overall  8.5 - 5.5 win to Wiltshire. It was a brilliant match played in an excellent spirit and our thanks go to Gloucestershire and their coach Gary Ward for their magnanimous congratulations aftet the match.

Tomorrow is Day 2, and Devon at 08:00...the story continues!!

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