LANCASHIRE COME OUT WITH ALL GUNS BLAZING
 Lancashire
fired a warning that it will take a major effort to deny them
a second successive title when they struck a decisive blow
on the opening day of the English Boys County Finals at Royal
Cromer yesterday.
The defending champions romped to a 7-2 victory over Worcestershire
while Surrey beat Somerset 6-3.
The north region winners gave little hint of the broadside
to come as they edged the morning foursomes 2-1. But the singles
proved a different kettle of fish. Only one match went to
the final green and in that Jack Brooks was the lone loser,
going down by one hole to James Newman. Otherwise it was plain
sailing for Lancastrians with Adam Andrews and Matthew Nixon
leading the way with 5 and 4 victories.
Andrews made his presence felt when he holed his wedge from
around 60 yards for an eagle-two at the 383-yard second hole
against James Taylor but it wasn’t until around the
turn that Andrews took a firm grip to run out an easy winner.
Nixon, last year’s British Boys champion, had two birdies
in the first three holes and was never really in trouble against
Tom Warbrick.
Tommy Fleetwood trailed two-down in the early stages to Rudy
Hercik but after getting back level on the sixth, the England
cap, who has just returned from helping GB&I to victory
over Europe in the Jacques Leglise Trophy at Notts, gradually
pulled ahead and san out a 3 and 2 winner.
Sean Nicholls was given a battle by Chris Nugent, the pair
being all square through 13 holes. But Nicholls won the 14th,
15th and 17th for a 3 and 1 success.
There was only one hole separating Lancashire’s Ciaran
Doherty (picture by Tom Ward) and Matthew Tweddell at the
turn but again the Lancashire man took a grip with a winning
birdie at the tenth and an eagle-three at the 11th on his
way to a 3 and 1 win, Doherty, Fleetwood and Nixon finishing
the day with two wins apiece.
Surrey, with two boy caps in their line-up, also had a 2-1
advantage from the foursomes but they were given a fight by
Somerset in the singles.
Although Billy Fowles claimed a decisive 5 and 4 victory
over Matt Kippen, Somerset hit back through Matt Brittan but
the 182-yard 13th hole proved a thorn in Somerset’s
side.
Fowles birdied it in his match while Gary King and Lea Heaton
also strengthened their hold on their contests there as Curtis
Edwards and Jack Palmer respectively ran up bogeys. In the
end King beat Edwards 2 and 1, while Heaton won 3 and 2 against
Palmer.
That saw Surrey home with Ian Anson adding to their success
with a 3 and 2 win over Ellie Cook. But Sam Day, who was 4-up
through ten holes against Stiggy Hodgson, had to go to the
final hole before sealing Somerset’s third win.
Tomorrow Lancashire play Somerset and Surrey meet Worcestershire.
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