The Axe Cliff seniors played their second match of the year against Fingle Glen on Thursday in dry, but very cold conditions, writes Dave Bruce.

Thank goodness we had just lifted our buggy ban, as the visitors brought two of their own and also hired two more.

It was a real joy for Fingle Glen players who had not been able to play much on their course for some months because of the weather.

However, the sturdy men from Axe Cliff showed their class by holding off the strong and eager opposition and winning three-and-a-half to two-and-a-half with the dream pairing of Robbie Robinson and David Evans winning the last game to seal a resounding four-and-three success. Our two other wins were from Mick Swann and John Purdy, the latter playing in his first match, and the reliable Nigel Garwood and Richard Orsman.

Bob Cook and Mick Tomes fought back to get a half on the 18th. Dave Bruce got nearest the pin on the difficult par three 14th, but missed his three foot putt for a two, but still won the hole – pity about the other 17!

Things were much warmer for the Friday Fun competition played as three-man teams.

The format was stableford with all three scores counting on the first six holes then only two counting on the middle six leaving only one to count on the final six.

It was simply all too difficult for Gilbert Cox to understand, but he was delighted that Rob Grove kept their score and even more so that Brian Thompson was their third member!

Needless to say they were our fun champions with an amazing 79 points, but only just pipped the strong team of Bob Graham, Mick Swann and a very talkative John Mant, who managed a sterling 77 points.

Mind you, hats off to John Hanna and Paul McGuire, who didn’t have a third member, but still played well enough, as a pair, to take third spot with 69 points.

Three players scored twos – Sid Pember, Dave Weston and John Purdy.