GOLF: The Suffolk Under-14 team got their season off to a flying start with victory over their counterparts from Essex at Purdis Heath last week. Davis Duffell, who is in charge of the under-14s was delighted with this success, especially as he was without five players.

THE Suffolk Under-14 team got their season off to a flying start with victory over their counterparts from Essex at Purdis Heath last week.

Davis Duffell, who is in charge of the under-14s was delighted with this success, especially as he was without five players.

The strength in depth of talent in the county in now evident and the standard has certainly increased over the last few years.

Duffell said: "I must pay tribute to Kelvin Vince and Simon Harrison, who coach the under-14 squad on a monthly basis. They have had a very big impact."

Shaun Bradford captained the Suffolk side that scored a decisive 7-3 victory over their rivals. Aaron Bowen (Fynn Valley) and Stoke-by-Nayland's Mark Prince both scored big wins as did Nathan McFarland (Gorleston) and Joe Simpson of Rushmere.

The quality of the under-14 squad can be gauged by the fact that 13-year-old Ross Cracknell, who plays off a six handicap at Fynn Valley, was picked for the combined Suffolk under-16 and under-18 match against Essex at the Essex Golf & Country Club at Earls Colne.

Cracknell did himself justice by halving his foursomes match with Warren Goddard as his partner and also finished all square in his singles.

Suffolk lost ten and a half matches to seven and a half, but were without their star player Jamie Moul who was a late withdrawal.

Another name that has recently joined the under-14 squad is Rhodri Hartson, who is only ten years old, but already plays off a 17 handicap.

Scores

Under-14 match (Suffolk names first): Chris Maynard (Ipswich) lost to Jack Hiluta 5 & 3; Shaun Bradford (Stoke-by-Nayland) beat Paul Maskell 2 & 1; Curtis Mann (Rushmere) beat Jack Clarke two up; Mark Richardson (Rushmere) beat Charles Costello 3 & 2; Liam Brace (Stoke-by-Nayland) lost to Jordan Newton 3 & 2; Nathan McFarlane (Gorleston) beat Joshua Freedman 5 & 4; Joe Simpson (Rushmere) beat Joe Goldring 5 & 4; Sam Taylor (Woodbridge) lost to Dan Capps one down; Aaron Bowen (Fynn Valley) beat Matt Hyman 7 & 5; Mark Prince (Stoke-by-Nayland) beat William Douglas 6 & 4.

Combined Under 16 and Under-18 match (Suffolk names first): Foursomes – Under-18: Tim Dainty and Greg Hills beat Warren Hayter and Sam Mason; Garry Kellett and Tom Berresford beat Lloyd Kennedy and Mark Hooper; Seb Sadler and Matthew Stockdale lost to Justin Brown and Tom Hunter. Under-16s:

Chris Duffy and Jamie Abbott beat Rhys Piper and Glen Binyon; Ross Cracknell and Warren Goddard halved with Adam Burwood and James Jones; Paul Dobson and Mark Farrow beat Ashley Lucas and David Wilkin.

Singles – Under-18: Dainty halved with Brown, Stockdale lost to Hayter, Hills lost to Hooper, Sadler lost to Kennedy, Kellett lost to Mason, Berresford lost to Hunter. Under-16s: Goddard beat Burwood, Cracknell halved with Jones, Dobson lost to Binyon, Abbott beat Piper, Farrow lost to Wilkin.