Report from Janet Hodge
There was a nerve jangling finish to the Ladies Silver team’s league with the match ending on the final putt.
With an enforced last minute change in the team selection at home against The Warren, Catriona Chaplin very kindly stepped in to replace Margaret Bentley as she unfortunately tripped at home the night before resulting in hurting both wrists and therefore unable to play.
After a very slow round, the Stoke girls kept their nerve and patience in extremely hot weather and managed to win 3 & 2 with a nail biting finish on the 18th Constable green.
Tracey Dickens teed off the 17th one up but unfortunately lost that hole so all square teeing off the 18th.
Unknown to Tracey, her match was going to decide whether Stoke won or lost as the score was 2 games each. With her opponent’s tee shot landing at the back of the 18th green, Tracey’s tee shot went right towards the trees, past the green up to the path on the right hand side.
Fortunately luck was on our side, as the ball rolled back a few feet leaving Tracey with a very difficult decision as to what to use to get her on the green and for the ball to stay there. Chipping over parched grass and numerous goose droppings, Tracey’s ball landed short but with just enough momentum to go down the slope on to the green, veering right it looked as if it was going straight in the hole but instead just rolled past leaving Tracey with a three foot putt.
Liz from The Warren putted next, but unfortunately for her, the ball rolled quite a way past the hole. Her next putt missed the hole short, so she ended up with a 4.
Tracey, bless her, sunk her par putt, winning her game and the match.
Needless to say, there was much celebrating by the Stoke team. Everyone agreed all the games were played in good spirits and Stoke wished The Warren all the very best in their last game against Chigwell.
We now just have to wait and see if we have done enough to get through to the quarter final. It is quite well known that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day for some, but for the wonderful girls in the SBN Silver Trophy team, both players and caddies, it proved to be a very lucky day indeed.
