Glo'sters Hale keeps his nerve to deliver a Channel League victory

ANCHOR man Andy Hale (Chipping Sodbury) scored the vital winning point when he chipped in on the 15th green for a 4 and 3 success as Gloucestershire ended the Channel League season 8-7 winners against Gwent at The Kendleshire.

It climaxed two years of captaincy for Chipping Sodbury's Mike Darby, who now hands over to club colleague David Wood.

He said: "It was a great way to end the season and a great team performance. We've made massive changes in the infrastructure over the last two years, changes which mean that it is a county team selected on merit 100 per cent of the time.

And he issued a challenge to all aspiring county players: "Shoot the scores, deliver the result and you will represent your county."

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013

Laurie Potter (Minchinhampton) with Sam Morgan (Knowle) and Hale partnered by Mike Day (Henbury) won their foursomes, but Gwent moved into an early 5-2 lead in the afternoon. Then Nigel Thompson (Brickhampton), Potter, Morgan and Jamie Dick and James Dobbs, the teenage debutants from Forest Hills, put their side 6—5 ahead. Although Paul Garland (Lansdown) and Day lost, Hale emerged as the hero.

Devon, Cornwall and Somerset each won four of their six matches, but Devon win the Channel League for winning more individual games. Despite an outstanding return from Knowle pair Louis O'Regan and Will Mullins Gloucestershire's second team lost 8-7 against Gwent in the Wessex League at Dewstow.

After being the only foursomes winners, they added singles successes in the afternoon. Shaun Thornhill (Broadway), Dan Finch (Puckrup Hall), Ian Wilkie (Thornbury) and Mitch Waite (Filton) also won their singles.

Cotswold Edge's Rod Hibbitt won the first Gloucester and Somerset PGA medal of the new season at Brean carding three under par 67 to beat the home club's Andrew March by one shot.

Daryl Kelley (Filton) and Somerset county development officer Paul Barrington (The Players Club), who dropped vital shots at the closing two holes, shared third on 71. Kelley carded four birdies but finding one of Brean's many water hazards at the eighth cost him a double bogey. Lee Marshall (Thornbury) returned 72 to record his best finish in fifth place.

Saltford's Mary Dolman, Chris Harris and Mahala Edwards won Somerset's nine-hole seniors bowmaker at Isle of Wedmore with 44 points.