ENGLAND YOUNGSTERS PIPPED BY SPRINGBOKS
A talented England junior team was narrowly beaten into second
place by the hosts in a round robin match also involving Canada
at Zebula Country Club in South Africa.
The three-day event was originally scheduled as a quadrangular
match, but when the Netherlands withdrew it turned into a
three-way contest with singles on the first and third days
and foursomes on day two.
The magnificent Zebula course in the South African bush proved
a superb test for all 18 youngsters and with the temperature
in the thirties, conditions called for strict concentration.
England’s six-man team, all members of the Under 18
Squad, opened with a 5-0 victory over Canada with one match
halved but were beaten 2-4 by South Africa.
With two points awarded for a win and one for a half, that
left England on 15 points, two behind the hosts with Canada
on four.
In the second day foursomes, England completed the double,
beating Canada 3-0 and South Africa 2-1 to lead with 25 points
to South Africa’s 21 and Canada on eight.
On the final day, England again wrapped up a 4-2 win over
Canada but were beaten 4-1 by South Africa with one match
halved.
That meant South Africa took the event with 40 points to
England’s 36 with Canada on 14. But if England had managed
one more win they would have tied with the Springboks.
Jack Hiluta and Eddie Pepperell were England’s top
scorers, both being unbeaten. Hiluta from Essex had five wins
and a half from his six matches while Oxfordshire-based Pepperell
secured four wins and two halves.
“I was very proud of the way our boys played,”
said team manager Brian Roake. “They were only pipped
at the post by some magnificent play from the South Africans.”
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