| Hardy A Team not only safe but go Top |
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The Broadstone Hardy A Team arrived at Knighton Heath on Saturday with the usual strong team spirit and comradery knowing that at least a draw was required at Knighton to ensure First Division safety. This was our last league match of the season and away at Knighton was always going to be a tough challenge. The course was in super condition and the weather was fine but a swirling breeze made conditions tricky. I decided to take the role of non-playing Captain to ensure the team were kept informed of the position out on the course. Once again the quality of golf played was excellent with most matches going to the 18th and giving me another nail biting Saturday afternoon. Chris Dennis put our first point on the board with a terrific win on the 18th, this was followed by wins for Ashley Harvey and Brent Graham with 'Ginger Alcock' brining in a well earned halve. This left the position of the match at 3 1/2 to 3 1/2 with the last match coming down the 17th. Tim 'Rambo' Aston was our anchor man in this match and the last time I spoke to Tim he was 5 down after 9 holes. Was there any chance this match was still alive? It certainly was, by playing some excellent golf Tim won the 17th to go 1 up and then fired a 6 iron into the par 3 last finishing 10 feet from the pin. This secured him his match and meant Broadstone defeated Knighton Heath 41/2 to 3 1/2 and also gave Broadstone the 5 bonus points for the win. Not only has this excellent win secured our Division One status for 2010 but has put us top of the league with 4 wins and 2 losses this season. The league title is now in the hands of either Canford Magna or Meyrick Park who face last match home ties against Parkstone and Queens Park respectively. It is possible that if both Parkstone and Queens win we will win the league for a third successive season. We eagerly await the outcome of those matches of the next couple of weeks.
I would like to pass on all my thanks and congratulations to those members who played for the Hardy A team this year and it has been another fine season for the club. The commitment and effort put in by all the players this year has once again been excellent and it has been a privilege to be Captain of such quality golfers for a second year. But the season is not over, we now completely focus on bringing home silverware for the Club in the shape of the Hardy A K/O Cup. For the second consecutive year we have played ourselves into the Cup Final and now face Yeovil in the first leg of the Final at home on Sunday 6th September with the return leg at Yeovil on October 11th. We are going to go one better this year and bring that Cup home after losing last year's Final in a 'sudden-death' play off. If you have some time and can come out and support the Team over the Final I'm sure the guys would be most appreciative. Neil Irish - Captain Hardy A |