WORTHING MARCH ON

 

      Worthing, the Davies & Tate Trophy holders, entered the third round with a comfortable 9-3 victory over old rivals Littlehampton.  Worthing now go       to West Hove on April 28 where the opposition is likely to be stiffer.

      At Littlehampton, Worthing drew the foursomes and then swept to an unbeatable lead in the singles.  Six matches were won and two halved and against       a team that can give most a run for their money.

      Wayne Hawes and Joe Doherty, both former Sussex champions, had a great tussle, Doherty winning by one hole.  Steve Graham suffered a rare defeat on       his own course when losing 2 & 1 to Scott Nightingale who also spent a short time in the pro ranks.

 

                                                          PYECOMBE SPRING A SURPRISE

 

      Pyecombe proved far too strong for East Sussex National, the 2004 Trophy champions.  A 9-3 victory left little room for argument and Pyecombe's       reward is another home draw when they entertain Brighton & Hove.

      Last year on the way to winning the Plate, the B&H not only eliminated Pyecombe but, as Pyecombe team captain Andy Selsby remarked, "they gave us a       good stuffing, so we owe them one this time."

      Making only his second Trophy appearance for Pyecombe, big hitting left-hander Glen Williams (ex-West Hove) beat Ben Newsome and one of ESN's and       Sussex's bright prospects 3 & 2.

      Just across the Downs, the B&H knocked out Lewes, one of the strong Trophy teams, 6.5-5.5.  This only confirmed the growing strength of the home       club under the guidance of Phil Bonsall, the director of golf.

      Steve Stark, the B&H team captain, was three down with five to play but managed a brave half against Matt Hart.  In the battle of the two lowest       handicaps, Martin Galway (plus two) took out Mark Hilton (plus one) by 3 & 1 giving the B&H an important point.  Martin Slumbers and Andy Tolman       both holed good putts on the last green, Slumbers to halve with Henry Hilton and Tolman beating Steve Verth.

 

                                                         THE DYKE WIN AT LAST GASP

 

      Highwoods gave The Dyke a fright.  The Bexhill club tied the foursomes and matched shot for shot in the singles.  It all came down to the last       match.  Malcolm Stalker needed to stay unbeaten at the 18th to send The Dyke through to a third round tie at Copthorne.  His par was enough to win       the hole at the expense of Paul Nessling as Highwoods bowed out 6.5-5.5.

 

                                                          HEATH FIRE AT THE NEVILL

 

      Haywards Heath owed much to their 3-1 foursomes lead over The Nevill at Tunbridge Wells.  An outstanding performance from the Cowley brothers, Tim       and Sam was beating Richard Fung On and David Codd 6 & 4.  As expected, The Nevill came back strongly to win four of the singles and halve another.

      Haywards Heath, though rocking, clung to their lead thanks to wins by Andy Hull, Ben Arnold and Adam Galbraith with Tim Cowley contributing a vital       half for them to go through 6.5-5.5 and a visit to Ham Manor.

 

                                                           SEAFORD STAY COOL

 

      Another close finish, this time at Rustington, saw Seaford win 7-5 when the singles finished 4-4.  Seaford's best work was in the foursomes, a 3-1       advantage proving vital as they kept their heads in the face of Rustington's comeback.  Now Seaford go to Piltdown where Eastbourne Golf Park were       despatched by 11-1.

      West Hove recorded the only whitewash of the second round.  Dale Hill couldn't cope with the home firepower while Slinfold Park carried too much       know-how for visiting Sweetwoods Park and won 9.5-2.5.

 

      Davies & Tate Trophy, 2nd round results:

 

      Piltdown beat Eastbourne Golf Park 11-1;

      Cottesmore lost to Sedlescombe 6.5-5.5;

      Willingdon beat Cowdray Park 8-4;

      Slinfold Park beat Sweetwoods Park 9.5-2.5;

      The Dyke beat Highwoods 6.5-5.5;

      Brighton & Hove beat Lewes 6.5-5.5;

      Pyecombe beat East Sussex National 9-3;

      East Brighton beat West Sussex 7-5;

      Rustington lost to Seaford 7-5;

      West Hove beat Dale Hill 12-0;

      Chichester beat Ifield 8-4;

      Ham Manor beat Singing Hills 9-3;

      Crowborough Beacon beat Peacehaven 9.5-2.5;

      Littlehampton lost to Worthing 9-3;

      The Nevill lost to Haywards Heath 6.5-5.5;

      Copthorne beat Foxbridge 8-4.

 

      Draw for the 3rd round to be played April 28:

 

      Haywards Heath v Ham Manor;

      West Hove v Worthing;

      Piltdown v Seaford;

      Willingdon v East Brighton;

      Slinfold Park v Sedlescombe;

      Crowborough Beacon v Chichester;

      Pyecombe v Brighton & Hove;

      Copthorne v The Dyke.

 

      Draw for the Plate, preliminary round to be played April 28:

 

      Rustington v Cottesmore;

      Holtye v Sweetwoods Park;

      The Nevill v Royal Eastbourne;

      Hollingbury Park v Seaford Head.

 

      Draw for the Plate, 1st round to be played May 12:

 

      Cooden Beach v The Nevill or Royal Eastbourne;

      Selsey v Littlehampton;

      East Sussex National v Eastbourne GP;

      Singing Hills v Rustington or Cottesmore;

      Lewes v Dale Hill;

      Peacehaven v Tilgate Forest;

      Chartham Park v Hollingbury Park or Seaford Head;

      Hill Barn v Holtye or Sweetwoods Park;

      Eastbourne Downs v Highwoods;

      Hassocks v Bognor Regis;

      Cowdray Park v Wellshurst;

      West Chiltington v Boars Head;

      Ifield v Mid Sussex;

      Avisford Park v Waterhall;

      West Sussex v Mannings Heath;

      Foxbridge, bye.