ESSEX Colts have completed a great year for the county by winning the northern section of the South-eastern Golf League. Their success was confirmed at Boyce Hill when they triumphed 6.5 - 5.5 over Bedfordshire. With the senior team having already won their league, the colts knew they needed a draw or win from the last fixture to emulate them. To add to these triumphs, Essex Boys also enjoyed a year to remember by sharing the national championship with Yorkshire. The colts will now take on southern section champs Kent for the overall title, while the seniors meet Surrey. Both encounters are next month. Essex Colts held a 2.5 - 1.5 lead at lunchtime and finally sealed their triumph by sharing the singles spoils at 4-4. Scores (Essex first): Foursomes - Jack Margetts (Warley Park) and Tommy Hunter (Ilford) beat Michael Round and Craig Nield 2 and 1; Lloyd Kennedy (Chelmsford) and Ashley Lucas (Chelmsford) halved with Roberto Liano and Wayne Seymour; Dale Whitnall (Forrester Park) and Craig Lockwood (Channels) beat Charlie O'Brien and Niall Johnson; Adam Burwood (Harwich and Dovercourt) and Rhys Piper (Rochford) lost to Graham Benson and Chris Gill 6 and 5. Singles: Hunter lost to Benson 3 and 2; Kennedy beat Round 2 and 1; Lucas halved with O'Brien; Margetts halved with Johnson; Burwood beat Seymour 4 and 3; Piper lost to Gill 1 down; Whitnall beat Nield 2 up; Lockwood lost to Liano 1 down. This is the second season on the trot that the colts have won all their northern section league matches. Last term defeat by Kent in the overall final was their only setback, but they will be out to reverse that result this time round. The Thornton Cup final, Essex's senior team competition, was staged at Canons Brook and resulted in victory for Chelmsford, who beat Romford 8-7. The county inter-club youth shield final was held at Rochford with victory going to Romford, 4-2 winners over West Essex.