The bi-annual match between the two clubs sharing the Belfairs Park facilities could not have produced a more exciting finish, the match finishing at eight points apiece and being decided on countback of holes won.
Finally hosts Southend were declared winners, having won their matches by 23 holes against the 19 of Belfairs.
Belfairs tasted first blood when Peter Mahoney and Paul McGovern beat Mick Burch and Larry Lauezzari.
However, Southend then won the next three matches -- Barry Sutton and Dave Pepper beating Mike Wellham and Ted Barber, Roy Thomas and Dave Bailey pipping Robbie and John Lovett by one hole and Dave Seymour and Ben Cook seeing off Phil Bishop and Jim Breakspear 5 and 4.
Match five saw Ray Threadgold and Paul Kreyling, of Southend, finish all square against Bob Clark and Bob Whale in the clash of captains and vice-captains. Belfairs hit back when Bob Mace and Kevin Buck beat Ian Spooner and Mick Matthews 4 and 3.
Paul Eley and Malcolm Brennan restored Southend's two-point advantage with a 3 and 2 success over Alan Gribbon and Glen Bremerman. However, scores were level when Andrew Meddle and Ray Beadell beat Eamonn Flynn and Joe Garnett 5 and 4 with Barry Meddle and Bernie Walker seeing off Stan Ferguson and Pat Trim 2 and 1.
Southend again got their noses in front when Alex Macdonald and Les Aston, one down after 16, beat Dave Smith and Hugh Brown by one hole, but Belfairs "equalised" when Phil Hance and Jim Pacey won by the same margin against Dave and Terry Burgess.
Peter Ellis and Andrew Wood then put Belfairs ahead with a 3 and 2 win over Larry Laidlaw and Tony James, but equality was restored when Vic Askew and Russell Turner recorded a 4 and 2 victory against Brian Hellicar and Paul Sicheri.
Lee Winsor and Ron Edwards then got the better of Ian Shaw and Peter Feller by a 3 and 2 margin to leave Southend needing only one win.
The final match saw Southend's Martin Jones and Roy George five down with seven to play against Graham Carter and John Howley, but they came back to all square to tie the match
Published Thursday October 17, 2002
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