The Mellin & Senior Mellin

Date: 12-14 July 2012

Venue: West Hill

Qualification: O/55 - Mellin Salver. O/65 - Burles Salver. O/75 Millard Salver

Contact: John Youngman

Report on 2011

Our Mellin team this year was significantly strengthened by the addition of Rhys Francis and Michael Farley, respectively a current and a past Halford Hewitt player, who played together as top pair and won all their three matches. So well done to them and we hope they will form the nucleus of the team in future years. Nick Chamberlin was also a debutant in the team, substituting for Gavin Webb-Wilson who was unfortunately not available.

However, our overall performance was disappointing. In the first round we lost to a strong Oundle team. After the top pair had won and Falconer and Chamberlin had faded after a promising start, Cannon Brookes and Youngman fought back after being three down but could not in the end take their opponents beyond the 18th.

In the Plate against Mill Hill, Cannon Brookes and Youngman won at the 17th and, with the top pair winning comfortably again, we won 2-1.

In the semi-final Downside played some tricks with their order with the result that our strong top pair were wasted in winning 7/6 against what clearly appeared to be the opposition’s weakest pair. Falconer and Chamberlin again established an early lead but were unable to maintain it. So Cannon Brookes and Youngman were again in the firing-line in the deciding match where, not displaying their good form of recent years, they were down throughout. They managed to recover and take the match to the 18th but could not better their opponents’ excellent par 4.

The good news is that in the next few years several more of our Halford Hewitt players from the “Currie era” will become eligible and our prospects are looking much more promising. Then some of the old men in the side can be released to strengthen our chances in the Burles!

The first day started cloudy and wet for the opening match in the Burles Salver against Oundle. Simon Brown and Nick Chamberlain – playing for the first time – made up the first pair, with Richard Hughes and David Dinkeldein the other. Two close matches ensued, but Oundle crept ahead in both of them and we came to the 17th tee two down in both matches. The top pair halved the 17th to lose 2.and 1; the second pair won the 17th but lost the 18th to lose by one hole.

Meanwhile, our two over 75 pairs (Peter Southcombe with Colin Sharman; and Dick Draper with Jim Coppen) were playing in the Stableford qualifying round. It turned out that 22 points was the lowest score to qualify and we fell some way short of this.

The weather improved after lunch and we played Bradfield in the Burles Plate. John Youngman stood in for Chamberlain, and we won the first pair by 3 and 2. By contrast, Hughes and Dinkeldein struggled and lost by 5 and 4. Sudden death was called for and, with Youngman unavailable, Hughes and Dinkeldein halved the 17th in 8. Bogey 5s halved the 18th and 19th; we then lost the match with a six at the 20th.



Match details

G L Mellin Salver - Round 1 v Oundle on 8 July at West Hill



G L Mellin Plate - Round 1 v Mill Hill on 8 July at West Hill





G L Mellin Plate - Semi Final v Downside on 9 July at West Hill