THE Worcestershire Golf Club beat local rivals Bransford to retain the Tim Wilson Trophy.

Leading five matches to one from the home leg played in October, The Worcestershire expected a tight match away at Bransford and so it proved. However, the visitors managed to sneak home with a 3-3 draw to win overall by eight games to four and keep their hold on the trophy.

Winning away in very rainy conditions were former captains Mark Read and Steve Bradshaw by 2&1, Tom Howells and Paul Wakely, also 2&1, and Steve Carter and Tom Davies who shook hands on the 12th.

Losses were incurred by Andy McCabe and Phil Birch, Dave Tucker and Ralph Kelsall, and Pete Jolley and brother Chris.

The County winter inter-club knock-out competitions have now kicked off and The Worcestershire fielded two sides. The club’s B team met The Abbey GC at home in their first Droitwich Shield encounter of the season. Nick Smith and Jamie Dunster won 3&2, while Tom Davies and Andy McCabe lost 3&2.

Phil Birch and Mark Read kept their nerve under sudden death conditions to win the deciding match on the first extra hole, to take the team into the next round.

Meanwhile, the over-55s took on Churchill and Blakedown in round one of The Kidderminster Cup. In an excellent match, the Worcestershire made home advantage tell to win 2-1.

John Wootten and Neville Clarke had an excellent game, defeating their opponents 6&5, while Mark Read and Geoff Fox birdied the 17th to secure a 3&1 victory.

Team captain Roger Brierly and Martin Lloyd just fell short this time.

Seniors’ vice captain Andy Peet led out a strong team to produce a comprehensive 6-1 victory when The Worcestershire seniors entertained Naunton Downs seniors in an inaugural match. The lead team of Andy Peet and Peter Kirton won one up, followed by 2&1 wins for Roger Blackwell and Neil Hide and Brian Piner and Keith Hitchcock.

There were two very good wins of 5&4 by both Ronnie Barker and James Noon and Andrew Colston and John Duncan. Last year’s captain Les Facer and his partner Phil Bayliss won by 3&2. Terry Cox and Tim Keates were beaten on the last hole.

In club competitions, Joan Herbert was the clear winner of the second round of the ladies’ winter league.

Carding 38 stableford points, she was three points ahead of Penny Stevenson who continued her steady form to take second place on countback from Mary Horrobin.

Meanwhile, the men’s mid-week stableford went to Ian Brazier with 39 points, ahead of Bill Massey and third placed Andy Price, both on 38.

A total of 24 couples entered the third of the winter mixed competitions at the Malvern Wells course.

An Alliance Stableford, off full handicap with the best ladies’ and men’s score to count at each hole, produced a second win for Julie Saunders, Will Brimmell, Jill Piner and Brian Piner. They scored a very respectable 87 points.

Close on their heels were Corinne and Nigel Mills who teamed up with April and Andy Greene who lost out on countback. Alex and Andy Dunster, Jill Brierly and Paddy McIlroy were the best of three groups on 78 points, securing third place.