Rochford Hundred chalked up a superb 8.5-6.5 victory at Burnham-on-Crouch in the second round of the Leslie F Wood junior team Championship on Sunday.

Team captain Richard Southwood said afterwards that the win had been built on team work.

"It's difficult to pick anyone out because this success was down to all the team showing real grit and determination to overcome not only a very good Burnham side but difficult windy conditions as well," he said.

The morning foursomes were swings and roundabouts for Rochford with the lead off pair Richard Jubb and Dick Jones going down 5 and 3 to D Vidgeon and P Hegarty.

But this was quickly evened up when Colin Tucker and Roy Nesbitt had a crushing 8 and 7 win over R Morris and S Smith.

Roger Davies and Dick Clark cruised in 4 and 3 over M Clark and J Sims while cadet John Pleasant and Dennis Bailey claimed a half with R Walkingshaw and M Parrish after a nip and tuck battle.

Richard Campbell-Carr and young Adam Moy went down 6 and 5 to J Barker and T Wilkin to leave the match evenly poised at 2.5-2.5 at lunch.

The afternoon Singles saw Rochford get off to a flying start with the first two matches going their way -- Nesbitt 1 up over Hegarty and Moy seeing off Clark 3 and 2.

Jubb lost 3 and 2 to Vidgeon but veteran Jones, one down with two to play, pulled off an amazing 1 up win over Parrish and Davies followed him in by beating Barker 2 up.

The impetus swung back towards Burnham when Clark went down 7 and 5 to Sims and Campbell-Carr was sunk 5 and 4 by Wilkin.

But despite Tucker losing 2 down to Smith, Rochford squeezed home thanks to Pleasant beating Morris 1 up and Bailey easing in 3 and 2 over Walkingshaw.

Southwood added: "We've got a tremendous team spirit going amongst the squad who really feel that Rochford can go all the way this year and reach the final as we did two years ago."

Published Thursday, May 22, 2003

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