With two regulars unavailable Norfolk suffered their first defeat of County Week at Hunstanton when they were beaten 5-4 by Bedfordshire.

Youngsters Amelia Williamson and Amy Taylor said their farewells on Wednesday evening before travelling down to Kent to compete in the prestigious Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters at Nickels Golf and Country Club.

Both had been key figures in Norfolk's excellent start to the competition, which saw them beat Hertfordshire 5-4 and Essex 5½-3½ before sharing the spoils 4½-4½ with Suffolk.

The hosts performed admirably without two of their big guns on a blustery day yesterday, but ended up losing a tight game and now need to beat Cambs & Hunts in their final match today (9.18am and 2.16pm) to have a chance of retaining their East Region title.

If they can get the desired result against a team who have struggled so far then it could all go down to points difference, with much hinging on the result of the match between Hertfordshire and Suffolk.

The morning foursomes was a typically hard-fought affair, with both teams picking up a win and the other match being halved.

Barnham Broom team-mates Jo Ashmore and Ellie Brown teamed up for a 2&1 victory while the Royal Norwich duo of Herd and Campbell came away with a half after winning the 18th hole.

With her daughter otherwise engaged, Tracey Williamson teamed up with young Immy Leeder, who had marked her debut with a win the previous day, and they slipped to a narrow defeat by a margin of two down.

That meant there was everything to play for after lunch and once again there was little to choose between the sides as Leeder, Brown, Herd, Tiffany Mills, Campbell and Tracey Williamson went out in the singles.

Brown completed an excellent day by winning her match 3&2 while Williamson brought up the rear with a 2&1 success. But Bedfordshire won three games to edge home, with Leeder (1 down), Herd (2 down) and Campbell (4&3) all suffering defeats, Leeder to Bedfordshire county champion Annabel Pitts.

The other match was halved, with Mills clawing her way back from one down at the 18th tee courtesy of an excellent putt.