GOLF: It is ten years since James Wright made his debut in the Hambro Cup for Rushmere – and he's still to be a winner.The 26-year-old scratch player has made four final appearances, but has been on the losing side on each occasion.

GOLF

IT is ten years since James Wright made his debut in the Hambro Cup for Rushmere – and he's still to be a winner.

The 26-year-old scratch player has made four final appearances, but has been on the losing side on each occasion.

Whether or not one of Suffolk's finest players will ever be in a winning Rushmere team remains to be seen, but James wants to see more commitment from the rest of the players if he is to achieve his objective.

James is Rushmere's team captain and looking ahead to Sunday's quarter-final tie at Flempton, he said: "We've got our work cut out. We only just scraped through against Thorpeness by one hole in the previous round.

"I don't feel we have as strong a side as we have had in previous years, but having said that the team now contains some four and five handicappers and that should help.

"For some years Rushmere had the lowest combined handicaps of any club and always had to give shots."

James feels that some of the players should work harder at their game.

He said: "They should be a bit more professional and a little bit less cavalier.

"It's important that when we're drawn away that all players should go and have a practice round a few days before the match.

"Last year before the final against Stoke-by-Nayland some of the team didn't have a practice round and as a result they didn't do themselves justice."

James has been around a long time even though he won't be 27 until August, but is still one of the best players in the county.

In July he will be having a crack at The Open by playing in the regional qualifier, but otherwise will be sticking to county and club golf.

He said: "It's hard these days to compete in the top amateur events in the country. I work in a stonemason's yard five days a week and that doesn't give me the time to play at the top level.

"In any case you've got to be off a plus two handicap to secure a place in most of the tournaments."

Flempton were eight-hole winners over Haverhill in the last round and Rushmere will have to be at their best to beat them.

No doubt James will be having a few words with the rest of the team before tackling Flempton on their own nine-hole course.

Of the other ties Ipswich have a local derby against Felixstowe Ferry at Purdis Heath. It will be Felixstowe's first match having had a bye in the first round and then their second round opponents, Aldeburgh Artisans, conceded.

Holders Stoke-by-Nayland are still the team to beat and will be expected to book their semi-final place at The Suffolk. The other tie sees Diss entertain Gorleston.

In the Tolly Cobbold Cup Rushmere will fancy their chances of going all the way this year. With so many good players in the handicap range to choose from, Rushmere should be too strong for Fynn Valley on their own track.

St Clement's are very hard to beat on their own course, but they go to Gorleston in the knowledge that they won at Aldeburgh last year.

It would be a great achievement for the newest club to the Suffolk Golf Union if they could reach the semi-finals for the first time.

In the other ties, Ipswich travel to Haverhill, and holders Stoke-by-Nayland entertain Rookery Park.