BRAINTREE Golf Club staged a remarkable fightback at Stisted to overcome last year’s finalists Rochford Hundred in the second round of the Thornton Cup.

Trailing 4-1 after the morning foursomes, with just a solitary win by Callum Pipe and James Hedger, Braintree bounced back in the afternoon singles.

Paul Buchan, Matt Sanders and Pipe won the top three games, while Jack Jordan produced a 6&4 victory over Rochford’s leading man, Spencer Wells.

Adam Crane and Hedger then added further wins to complete a clean sweep of the first six singles to set up a tense finale.

Steve Leak secured a half before ninth man out, Jon Earl won his contest 2up to see Braintree over the line.

Missing from the Braintree team was Todd Clements, who more than made up for it by finishing joint seventh in leading 72-hole amateur event, the Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s.

Having survived the halfway cut on the limit after two opening rounds of 76, Clements then shot 70 and 73 for 295, finishing seven strokes behind the winner.

Braintree also progressed in the Norman Plum Trophy, beating Hartswood 4½–1½.

They now face Benton Hall in round two at home on May 28, while the club will entertain Warley Park in the second round of the Leslie Wood Trophy on Sunday.

Braintree also won through in the Jubilee Cup, beating Epping 9-0 at home and the ladies' bronze team beat Chelmsford 5-2.

Back at Stisted, high handicappers came to the fore in the Saturday Stableford with Sean Finneran, playing off 23, coming out on top with 43 points.

He finished two ahead of Dave Davenport (20) with Brian Blackwell (20) third with 40.

Another 43 points won the Sunday event for Gary Jones (9) on countback from Phillip Musgrove (17) while Peter Simons (12) finished third with 40.

The ladies' midweek Stableford was won by Helen Hart with 38 points playing off a handicap of 26.

There was a countback on 36 points for second spot with the verdict going to Melinda Atkinson (14) ahead of Anne Gisby (20).

At the RSM UK/Richard White-sponsored mixed fourball betterball, the overall winners were Andy Bullock and Liz Maynard with 41 points, finishing one ahead of club captain Brian Day and Jenny Day with Nigel West and Debbie Blundell third.