SENIOR DARWIN (65 & OVER) 19/20 JUNE 2011.
We had a relatively strong side, starting with 6 men of about 10 or under. The first mistake was the captain telling us we were off at 10.20, when the true start time was 10.00. Perhaps a deliberate ploy to stop our temperamental boys getting too nervous with too long to worry?
Our first opponents were Eton, whom we had beaten in the semi-final last year. Eton again had a strong side, and we were eager to beat them twice in a row. We did so, to our considerable pleasure!
Thank you to everyone for turning out, and to Reserves for standing by. Stephen Proctor maintained his 100% record v Eton, (largely in Hewitt matches), ably assisted by Andrew Aylwin (3 matches), each having 100% records this year, as did Stephen Bois (2 matches). Match 3, the decider, fought back, having been 3 down after 4 and 9 holes, and never in front, against possibly Eton’s strongest pair.
Round 1 v Eton Tues a.m. Harrow won 2 – 1
Stephen Posford & Hugh Stevenson bt C Holdsworth Hunt & R Daniels 6/5
Jeffrey Bonas & George Rothman (Capt) lost to J Deedes & G Milne (Capt) 3/2
Andrew Aylwin & Stephen Proctor bt M Dixon & A Clegg 1 hole
Round 2 v Clifton Tues p.m. Harrow won 3 – 0
Our next opponents were Clifton, whom we beat fairly comfortably. Rothman had to drop out with a bad back for the rest of the event, and Stephen Bois came in.
Posford & Stevenson bt A Mann & H Whitty 2/1
Stephen Bois & Bonas bt G Marcer & M Orr 6/5
Aylwin & S Proctor bt S Trinder & J Cottrell 2/1
Round 3 v Marlborough Wed a.m. Harrow lost 1 – 2
Marlborough were fairly strong, and the result could hardly have been any closer, with the decider going down the 19th. Tom Webb (OHGS Captain) was called in for Proctor, who could not play a.m.
Bonas & Tom Webb lost to J Hopper & T Martin-Jenkins at 19th
Posford & Stevenson lost to H Blenkin & P Howard 2/1
Aylwin & Bois bt S Morgan & R Wace 3/2
Marlborough went on to lose the final to Charterhouse 1 – 2, in a very close match, C’house being last year’s victor over Harrow in the final, and about the strongest side.
VETERAN DARWIN (75 & OVER) Wed 20 Jun p.m.) Captain Noel Collison’s final plan was for Ivan Stewart to play with David Moseley, in an attempt to win the Age/handicap event yet again. Noel was to have played, but was non-playing Captain. S Proctor & Rothman were to have played, and attempted to win the main scratch cup, but GR was again unable to play. Our one pair of Moseley & Stewart managed 33 points, which was good enough to win the Age/handicap event yet again for the 7th time in 7 or 8 years, with Ivan now 91, involved for every one of those 7 wins – Ivan is to be congratulated on yet another outstanding achievement.
BERNARD DARWIN TROPHY (55 & OVER) 5/6 JULY 2012. Captain Bonas stuck his neck out by leaving himself on the sidelines, and selecting some original pairings against the holders, Marlborough, a strong side, who had beaten us in the semis of the Senior Darwin a fortnight earlier. He was proved right. Harrow were down in all 3 matches nearly all the way, but came good just at the critical time. We were fortunate to have Nick Tindall in the side for the first time, being newly eligible, and a top current Hewitt player.
Round 1 v Marlborough Thurs a.m. Harrow won 2 1/2 – 1/2
Stephen Posford & George Rothman bt B Carrick & M Cornish 2/1
Andrew Aylwin & James Hedin bt J Hopper (capt) & B Wace 1 hole
J Sheffield & N Tindall halved with Denny & T Martin-Jenkins (we were 1 up playing last hole & would have won match).
Round 2 v Rugby Thurs p.m. Harrow lost 1 – 2
Posford & Rothman lost to H Clark & P Stanbrook 4/3
Aylwin & Hedin lost to R Lyons & S Maisey 4/3
Sheffield & Tindall halved with A & D Swanston (we were 1 up, and unlikely not to win).
Rugby had beaten the very strong Tonbridge side in round 1. Rugby went on to lose to strengthening Uppingham in the semis, where Radley bt Eton in the top half. Radley bt Uppingham in the final at the 20th in the deciding match.
NEXT YEAR-Dates are:-
- Senior Darwin Tues/Wed 18/19th June 2013
- Veteran Darwin Wed 19th June p.m.
- Darwin Thurs/Fri 4/5th July
The usual PLEA TO ALL TOP ELIGIBLE PLAYERS TO WRITE THESE DATES IN YOUR DIARIES, AND KEEP THEM FREE IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. We can always do with our strongest players, whom we rarely get. We’ve not done too badly of late with less than our strongest sides, but could do even better!
All the best,
George Rothman (Captain, Senior Darwin)
