Three down, one to go!
Murray Leyden’s League Golf Update
Three down, one to go! That’s where we find ourselves as we enter the final furlong of the race to the Premier League title where fortunately we have the inside track and an excellent run-in towards the finish. Right now, with two tough away matches remaining, we are sitting pretty at the top of the table and two wins will see us through to the Premier League title for the third time in four years. But there is much to be done and we are certainly not getting ahead of ourselves as we focus primarily on the next league match, which is against Southern Natal at Margate on Sunday 29 August.
Three down? Yes, congratulations to Dave Phillips and his unbeaten Durban Country Club A team on winning the Central League’s A Division and setting up a promotion-relegation match for a spot in next year’s Premier League. It would certainly be a feather in the club’s cap were we to be the first club ever to have two teams in the Premier League, especially if we are also the reigning champions! Our A side travelled to Vryheid last Sunday and effectively had things won when taking a 3½-1½ lead into the afternoon singles against Midlands A, eventually taking the match 7½-4½. Excellent singles wins by Chris Appel, Keith Forde, Mark Baptie and Laghlan Gourlay put the result beyond doubt and secured 2010 league title number one.
We need look no further than the Allerton League for titles two and three. John Terry-Lloyd’s A team proving too good for Victoria Country Club, brushing aside their challenge 8½-3½ with an excellent team performance at Maidstone, thereby taking league honours with a match still to be played. Not to be outdone, Lloyd Letard’s side won the Allerton B Division when defeating their closest challengers Central Durban 8-4 at Beachwood. That’s a pretty emphatic victory where we knew the winners would win the league. What a fantastic turnaround for the club in the Allerton League this year and, aside from the enormous contribution from both skippers throughout the season (in fact, it all began last year really when we set about rejuvenating our participation in Allerton golf and won promotion to the A Division), our success this year is in no small measure attributable to the dedicated, thoroughly committed support from all our Allerton golfers. Congratulations one and all. You can all feel justifiably proud of your achievement this year.
Kurt Stander’s C team, a deliberate mix of youth and experience, were an absolute revelation in the lofty heights of the Central League’s A Division. Returning from premature retirement, Kurt, ably supported by Glen Passmore, set about nurturing some of our very best junior and young golfing talent as they gained invaluable experience in the cut and thrust of men’s competitive matchplay golf. Juniors William Bruce and Clayton Mansfield were a revelation, coming on in leaps and bounds and showing maturity beyond their years, while Ryan Passmore and James Moody are not far behind. We are expecting great things from this exciting young quartet in the years ahead. Kurt’s team ended their season on a high by putting one over their more fancied opponents, winning 6½-5½ against Mark Cousens’ B side in a home derby at Beachwood and ending in fourth place on the log. As the scoreline suggests, the match was a close-fought affair, the result in the balance throughout the day, so full credit to Will Bruce for fighting all the way to halve his singles, to Clayton Mansfield on a crucial singles win and to Ryan Passmore on handing his opponent a 7/5 drubbing.
Garth Davis’ D team travelled down the coast to Umkomaas and trounced neighbours Royal Durban B 10½-1½ to secure second place in the Central League’s C Division after an outstanding league season. We dropped just half a point in the singles, where impressive wins by Rob Edwards (9/8), Mike Cullen (8/6) and Paul Cruickshank (6/5) enabled them to take an early afternoon shower! Well done, Garth and your team. Nick Keary’s difficult debut season reached an all time low when an inability to field a full team meant he had to forfeit the match and full points to our opponents Bluff National. It was not for the lack of trying either as I know Nick was at his wits’ end trying to put a team together as late as Saturday afternoon, brought about by several late withdrawals and general player unavailability. The Durban July horseracing did not help, but I must say I personally found it rather disappointing that we were unable to find anyone, albeit at short notice, willing to come forward and support their club in its hour of need. Forfeiting league matches and Durban Country Club are definitely not coupled on the tote. I sincerely hope it never happens again.
On a happier note, our Premier team plays Kloof Country Club away on Sunday 3 October in a match that may well decide the Premier League champions. Why not make a note of this date and come out and support our club’s top team as we aim for four in 2010. I wouldn’t miss it for anything!
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