Clifton play in the Halford Hewitt 2023
Sunday, 2 April 2023
Clifton were drawn at Deal on Thursday morning against a much-improved Westminster side, with several young and talented players. The conditions were windy but dry. Clifton’s top pair of Chris Dale and Andy Rudge took control of their match and never looked like losing – they won 4&3. Our second paid of Jack Mann and Lloyd James were playing a strong pair who took control of their match early on. However they staged a mighty come back having been 5 down with 7 to play and took the match down the 18th. With a putt from 8 foot to take it down the 19th, momentum was on our side, but it slid past the edge and they lost 1 down. Chris Baker and Chris Carney had a very close match in the third pair with nothing in it until the 16th when we lost a ball out of nowhere down the left side of the fairway. Needing to win the 17th being dormy 2 down, it was a stretch too far as the Westminster pair hit a massive drive and good second shot to put the game out of reach – we lost 2&1. David Rowe and Tony Taylor had a very close match at 4th pair. They were all square on the 13th and a putt to win the hole hit the pin but stayed out. Westminster made a good par on the 17th into a stiff wind, to go to the 18th, 1 up. Unfortunately we had some bunker trouble down the left side and ended up halving the hole to lose 1 down. Chris Trembath (super sub coming in to play at the last minute) and Charlie Powell staged a great comeback to get to the 18th tee – all square having won the 16th and 17th whilst the other matches were being played out ahead. They reluctantly agreed to a half but the match was over – Clifton losing 1 ½ to Westminster  3 ½. We had some excellent support from Alan and Lindsay Mann and their dog Rye and from Tim Taylor and Robert Dyson.