CAPTAIN Chris White remained upbeat after Norfolk’s county golf team slipped to a second successive slender Anglian League loss.
The hosts went down 5-7 to Northamptonshire in a hard-fought contest at Great Yarmouth and Caister Golf Club.
White and playing partner Simon Clark posted Norfolk’s solitary point from the morning’s quartet of foursomes matches.
But the singles proved to be much closer with Clark and White again to the fore, securing battling victories.
Sully Goddard, 15, demonstrated his emerging talent with a 3&2 win and Carl Green delivered an emphatic triumph in the closing head-to-head.
Green’s point meant the spoils from the afternoon singles were split, but Northampton preserved their halfway cushion to earn an outright two-point victory.
White said: “The team put up a strong fight in the singles, having been behind at lunchtime.
“Simon Clark delivered another outstanding performance, securing victories in both matches for the second consecutive game.
“The individual effort and determination shown by everyone cannot be faulted, but the team is not quite getting over the line at the moment. It will come – keep the faith.”
Norfolk: Chris White (Hunstanton), Simon Clark (Great Yarmouth & Caister), Josh Chamberlain (Thetford), Carl Green (Great Yarmouth & Caister), Mason Bernstein (King’s Lynn), George Morris (Eaton), Sully Goddard (Bawburgh), Thomas Nudd ( Sheringham)
Anglian League result
Norfolk 1st team 5 Northamptonshire 7 (Played at Great Yarmouth and Caister Golf Club)
Foursomes (Norfolk players named first)
Mason Bernstein and George Morris lost by 2 holes v Jamie Milligan and Jensen Parfitt
Simon Clark and Chris White won by 2 holes v Lee Hitchcock and Ryan Genner
Josh Chamberlain and Sully Goddard lost 2&1 v George Castle and Torin Little
Carl Green and Thomas Nudd lost 4&2 v Jordan Darnell and Taylor Sergeant
Singles
Bernstein lost by 1 hole v Castle
Morris lost 4&2 v Parfitt
Clark won by 2 holes v Genner
White won 2&1 v Hitchcock
Chamberlain lost 4&3 v Little
Nudd lost 4&2 v Darnell
Goddard won 3&2 v Sergeant
Green won 5&4 v Milligan
*NORFOLK’S second team were unable to build on a promising foursomes display as they suffered a 4.5-7.5 defeat against Northamptonshire’s second string at Whittlebury Park Golf Club.
The visitors edged into a 2.5-1.5 lead at lunchtime with victories for the respective pairings of Peter Murphy-Scott Wright and Ryan Clarke-Adam Sims.
Wright went on to secure a halve from his afternoon singles, as did Matt Strudwick. But Darren Abbs recorded the only Norfolk head-to-head success as the host county staged a strong comeback.
Norfolk second team: Peter Murphy, Casey Patterson, Scott Wright, Adam Sims, Darren Abbs, Ryan Clarke, Matt Strudwick, Sean Rafferty.
