The Norfolk men put on a show of strength in depth when 18 of them turned out for the annual encounter against the RAF side. The three-phase match at Sheringham was the first of their series of warm-up events and county second team captain Kevin Pratt remarked: “It was so good to see so many players out there."

The Norfolk men put on a show of strength in depth when 18 of them turned out for the annual encounter against the RAF side.

The three-phase match at Sheringham was the first of their series of warm-up events and county second team captain Kevin Pratt remarked: “It was so good to see so many players out there.”

The teams played a fourball be-tterball, follo-wed by a foursomes match and finally a singles.

The RAF, captained by Norfolk player David Marshall, got off to a fast start and their early advantage was enough to see them emerge as overall winners. But Norfolk came back strongly and the final result was decided only when the last singles was played out.

The fourball series was claimed in emphatic style by the RAF who won

4-1. Marshall led from the front when he and his partner scored six birdies in the last eight holes. Meanwhile, Norfolk's solitary success was an impressive one with Alex Beckett (Costessey Park) and Simon Locke (Royal Norwich) winning by 8/6.

The four-somes were closer, finis-hing 3-2 in favour of the RAF.

County champion

Dan Henderson and Craig Butler, both from Royal Norwich, were Norfolk's top scorers with a 5/4 win.

By the time the singles were played Norfolk had shaken off any winter rustiness and romped to a 6½-3½ win. Pratt produced a fine 6/5 scoreline and Henderson beat Marshall 3/2.

In the end, Norfolk hopes rested with Simon Peckford of Thetford. If he could win the last hole to win his match it would square the scoreline overall. But he had to settle for a halved game and the RAF triumphed by 10½-9½.

“It was very competitive and a good comeback by Norfolk with some good golf played,” said Pratt.

Results. (Norfolk names first).

Fourball: Dan Henderson & Danny Chapmean lost to David Marshall & Stu Halliday 3/2. Alex Beckett & Simon Locke beat Chris Peacock & Richard Larratt 8/6. Joe Conway & Mark King lost to Billy McLeod & Ben Spoor 4/2. Steve Pratt & Dean Parker lost to Paddy Mournian & Liam Pucill 4/3. Kevin Pratt & Martin O'Brien lost to Mal Wray & Ross Caldwell 1 down.

Foursomes: Henderson & Craig Butler beat Wray & Halliday 5/4. Mark Eglington & Chase Davis halved with Marshall & Larratt. Conway & Stephen Chick lost to McLeod & Mournian 1 down. K Pratt & Stuart Ballingall halved with Spoor & Peacock. Simon Clark & Simon Peckford lost to Pucill & Caldwell 5/4.

Singles: Henderson beat Marshall 3/2., Eglington beat Halliday 1 up. Clark lost to Larratt 2/1. Butler lost to Wray 1 down. Davis beat McLeod 3/2. K Pratt beat Mournian 6/5. Conway lost to Caldwell 1 down. Chick beat Pucill 3/1. Ballingall beat Spoor 4/3. Peckford halved with Peacock.

t Have you got a golf story to tell? Contact Lyndsey Hewison by telephone or fax on 01603 507416 or email her at lyndsey.hewison@tiscali.co.uk