The opening round of the Derwent Valley Asbestos Removal and Demolition sponsored Eric McMullen Memorial Team Knockout Handicap Trophy took centre stage last week.
It featured some gripping match-ups across both Group A and Group B.
The handicap competition saw some exceptional performances and none more than that of Division Two side Workington Golf Club.
The tier two outfit opened their Group A campaign in style with an emphatic 4-1 home win over last season’s Division One champions United Club A.
Mark Brasted (+15) kicked things off with a composed 59-38 victory over Dave Chapman (+29) and it was Lewis Tilley (+40) who then edged Clive Lister (+19) 66-59 for a 2-0 Golf Club lead.
Bryan Walker (+25) extended the lead to 3-0 with a solid 74-51 win against Tony Hindmoor (+50) and Mark Cowan (+23) moved the score onto 4-0 with a dominant 61–28 display against Mark Suitor (+28).
Although the match was settled, United A captain Andrew Mitchelhill (+9) salvaged a frame for the visitors with a 60-24 win over Phil Sorfleet (+19) to end at 4-1.
Also in Group A, an all-Division Two clash saw home side Maryport Social produce a strong team display to defeat Workington Legion 4-1.
Andrew Sharp (+32) withstood a late charge to beat Adam Hodgson (+44) 64–52 to put Maryport 1-0 up, while Stuart Shepherd (+21) was outplayed by Simon Tootle (+43) to level the match with a 63–47 win.
Andrew Skidmore (+45) nudged past Dan Hallam (+50) 63–59 in a close contest for another Maryport advantage before Ryan Ismay (+14) held off Jordan Ferguson (+50) 72–69 to seal the match at 3-1. Andrew Scott (+31) took the final frame for the home side as Maryport marched to a 4-1 victory.
In Group B Division Two’s United Club B secured a fantastic result over Division One’s Vets Club, winning 3-2 from 2-0 down.
Vets A captain Kevin Basnett (Scr) demonstrated his class in the first finishing with a 40 clearance en route to a commanding 100–54 win over Adam Sowden (+46).
The Vets side then doubled their lead with a tidy 46-24 win as Stephen Jackson (+33) went down for United B.
However, the match turned from there as United B’s Shane Tallentire (+44) stunned Mark Tunstall (+24) 79-34, followed by Andrew Carter (+45) coming from behind to edge Mark Tatton (+26) 67-66 on the black for 2-2.
In the decider, Stephen Harrison (+34) showed excellent composure, and with some fine potting in the second part of the frame he defeated Paul Johnston (+50) 73-36 to clinch the match.
Finally, and in the second match in Group B Whitehaven’s Rack Shack pulled off a strong away performance to beat Division One’s Workington Conservative Club 3-2.
Rack Shack’s Neil Dougherty (+38) opened with a solid 77-62 win over Alan Moore (+8), before Phil Denvir (+32) lost out 88-56 to Richard McCarthy (+5), who also added a break of 34.
Chris McKelvey (+37) restored the Rack Shack lead with a clinical 66-47 win over David Holland (+20), but Alan Morilla (+44) was overhauled 85-35 by a confident Ryan Barker (+30) in frame four, making it 2-2.
In a tight final frame, Lee Dougherty (+44) edged Brian Kendall (+48) 42-40 in a gruelling contest to eke out the match victory for the Whitehaven outfit at 3-2.
