Rochford Hundred, beaten finalists two years ago, roared into the Leslie Wood team championship second round with a crushing home win over local rivals Southend.

Rampant Rochford dropped just half a point all day as their players mastered the blustery conditions.

The only slight relief for Southend came in the top Foursomes match when Stan Ferguson and Eammon Flynn won the last hole to force a half with Mark Crisp and cadet John Pleasant.

For the rest it was plain sailing for Rochford with the experienced duo of Colin Tucker and Roy Nesbitt whipping Martin Jones and Vic Askew 6 and 5 in a scrappy match and Roger Davies and Dick Clarke easing in 4 and 3 over Paul Kreyling and Roy Thomas.

Dick Jones and Richard Jubb and Rob Moss and Adam Moy both squeezed through 2 and 1 against Cyril Elliot and Jerry Neoh and Lee Wright and Roy George respectively.

Rochford team captain Richard Southwood warned his men against complacency before they went into the afternoon Singles and they responded by winning all 10.

Moss had a ding-dong battle with Ferguson before getting home 2 and 1 but Clarke licked Flynn 6 and 5 and Tucker saw off Jones 7 and 6.

Crisp showed Elliot no mercy with a 4 and 2 victory while Moy completed a memorable debut by beating Wright 3 and 2 with Nesbitt and Jubb getting home by the same scoreline against Neoh and George respectively.

Veteran Jones disposed of Askew by 4 and 3 and Davies won through 4 and 2 against Kreyling thanks to an immaculate short game.

The tightest match ended with Pleasant pipping Thomas 1 up to book Rochford a trip to Burnham-on-Crouch in the next round.

Published Thursday, May 1, 2003

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