Colne miss out on Jubilee showpiece

2:11pm Thursday 21st August 2008

Colne Valley have missed out on making their first-ever Jubilee Cup final.

They were beaten in their semi-final at Stapleford Abbotts against Royal Epping Forest.

Following excellent wins from Simon Gugacz, Paul Bacon and the pairing of John Thompson/Glenn Sibley at four games each, the final result went down to the last pairs competition remaining on the course.

Few would have given the Valley pairing of Tony Cleverley and Roger Bewley much of a chance at the turn, finding themselves down by four holes.

However, after Valley wins on the tenth, 12th and 13th the Forest duo of Matt Toms and Chris Butler were showing signs of nervousness, making small mistakes hole by hole.

Butler managed to keep their slender one-hole lead going by holing a superb long putt on the 17th for the half.

This left Forest needing just a half on the par five last hole to secure the match and a place in the final, Valley needed a win if they were to force a sudden death play-off.

On the 18th hole, Toms pitched through green in three, while his partner Butler was just off the green and pin high for the same score.

Unfortunately, the Valley pair did not play the last hole particularly well, but a close chip from Bewley left the Valley hoping for mistakes by the Forest duo.

All the other team members, caddies, officials and supporters, putting additional pressure on the each of the players, now circled the green.

Toms’ pitch on to the green went long, and by no means left a safe putt.

However, Chris Butler, who had played consistently well throughout the game, rolled a putt from off the green to within 12 inches of the hole, forcing the Valley pair to concede the game and with it, the match.

It was therefore a jubilant Royal Epping Forest who progressed through to play Channels in the final at Colchester Golf Club.

It was thought that this might have been the last year for the Jubilee Cup, as the current organisers from Stockbrook Manor were not carrying on in 2009.

However, it was announced after the game that a new committee has been formed and the competition would definitely be carrying on in its current format for the foreseeable future.

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