The first leg of the annual Gorleston v Caister Howlett-Smith match was played on June 24th with Gorleston ending the day 12up in the 4 ball better ball match play format. With a late dropout on the day before, team organiser, if you call organised chaos organising drafted in John Milne to make up the team of 12 required.

First pairing out were Andy Clifford and Jeff Helmore who returned an excellent 3up against Blair Ainslie and Nick Mobbs. Second pair out were Club Captain David Mills and new General Manager Matt Bowman using up his first ½ days annual leave on his second day at the club and returned to the clubhouse All square as did the third pairing of Fred Simeons and Ray Pope.

Fourth pair out with a combined age of about 180 were Alex Read and Jim Robinson who gave their opponents a masterclass in Matchplay winning 6up and these were followed by Matty Gee and Stuart Pearce who scraped a 1up victory to remain unbeaten in their last 3 Howlett-Smith matches.

Sixth out and our second all Scottish contingent of Eddie Reid and John Milne went out in what was the tightest group handicap wise and with Gorleston 1up coming down the last it was John Milnes’ turn to provide the spectacular moment of the day with an Albatross 2 on the Par 5 eighteenth which is a typical thing for a Scotsman to do as you only have to buy drinks for everyone for a hole-in-one.

The day ended with a fine meal cooked and served up by Simon and his team and a few drinks were enjoyed in the traditional manner with more Gorleston/Caister banter following.

A big thank you to all that played and I’m sure it won’t be as difficult to get 12 for the return leg in October where Caister pick up the bar Tab.

Write up by Stuart Pearce