The Firsts got off to a comprehensive start as a youthful
side triumphed 10.5-4.5 over Somerset at Abergavenny’s Monmouthshire course. Six
of those involved were still under 21 years old, a fact captain Gareth Isaac
believes bodes well for the future.
Newport’s former British Police Champion Chris Dinsdale led
the way, triumphing in the top foursomes and singles games, while club-mates
Rhys Barber and Julian Sansom, Greenmeadow’s Otto Mand and Llanwern’s Richard
Tayler were also double winners.
Dinsdale and Barber set the tone with a 4&3 foursomes
success over Phil White and James Popham. Father and son team Jonathan and Jack
Davidson had the biggest foursomes win of 5&4 over Will Poole and Miles
Angell, before Daniel King and Mand and Tayler and Sansom also won their
foursomes to help their county in to a 4-1 lead going in to the afternoon’s
singles.
Dinsdale again beat White, this time 5&4, before Celtic
Manor’s Mitchell Reid halved with Somerset’s Ellis Cooke. Barber, Mand, Oliver
Mottram (St Pierre) and Tayler again tasted victory, with Sansom beating Angell
4&3 to help Gwent take the singles 6.5-3.5 and the match 10.5-4.5 overall.
Former Wales seniors captain Isaac Isaac, of Newport, said
of the performance: “It was fantastic, especially with all the young boys out
there. Two, Jack Davidson and Otto Mand, were part of the Welsh Under-18 side
which triumphed over Ireland recently.
“The all-round performance was great. Everyone had at least
one point, and Chris Dinsdale won both of his matches playing top.
“The foursomes is imperative in Channel League, you’ve got
to get off to a good start. Now we prepare to face the old enemy!”
He was, of course, referring to Glamorgan, who Gwent face
next at Clyne on April 21.
Meanwhile, the under-18s faced that same “old enemy” in
arctic conditions at Clyne.
The victorious Gwent Under-18 team.
Three of the morning’s foursomes went
to the last hole and ended in halves, while the other two games ended in
a point to each county, leaving the result all square at 2.5-2.5.
Glamorgan’s Alex Matthews and Rhys Jones halved with Alex Price
and Liam Wilson, while Kyle Harman and Robert Evans v Jack Davidson and Jake
Darlington ended the same way. Daniel King and Phil Stickler put Gwent a point
ahead with a one-hole win over Tom Evans and Jack Longden, before Jack Hoskins
and Jonathan James levelled it up for Glamorgan with a 4&2 win over
Laurence Vargas and Rhys Evans.
Glamorgan’s James Grainger and Rhys Llewellyn then halved
with Matthew Harris and Luke Anderson to bring about the 2.5-2.5 scoreline.
The afternoon’s singles started well for Glamorgan, with
Jones defeating Davidson 2&1 and Matthews beating King 5&4 to move them
two points ahead.
But after Darlington halved with Harman, Gwent took five of
the remaining seven games.
For Gwent, Price beat Robert Evans by one hole, Harris
trounced Hoskins 6&5, Wilson beat Llewellyn 3&1 and Rhys Evans beat Tom
Evans 3&2, while for Glamorgan, Longden beat Vargas by one hole and
Grainger beat Stickler 5&4 to leave the match level with one game
remaining.
Anderson then jumped to the fore for Gwent, coming in
2&1 ahead of James to seal the victory.
It was a solid triumph, especially as three of the Gwent team
– Harris, Vargas and Anderson – are all still eligible for their under-16 side.
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