Royal Jersey rely on youth in Sevens

ROYAL Jersey are eyeing the chance of claiming a fourth County Sevens crown this weekend, to become one of the five most successful clubs in Hampshire Golf’s Inter-Club Knockout.

After a stunning comeback to knockout L’Ancresse after travelling to Guernsey for the Channel Islands Final, Royal Jersey, who last won the Hampshire Sevens in 2013, travel to Rowlands Castle for Sunday’s Finals Day.

They must hope they can end Southwick Park’s fairytale run to a first semi-final in the club’s history, and then face the winners of Hockley and Liphook in the other semi.

Liphook currently bask in the title of being Hampshire’s highest-ranked course in a number of top 100 UK courses lists, with scarily fast greens. But the Sevens trophy is one piece of Hampshire silverware that has definitely eluded their grasp in their long history.

Hockley, like Royal Jersey have the chance to join the three clubs that have won the County Sevens four times or more since the competition was created back in 1966, when Aldershot’s Army Garrison were the first winners.

The Army GC have five wins in total, but were eliminated by Liphook, while host club Rowlands Castle, who have a record six victories – the last in 2018 when they beat Royal Jersey on the last green in almost darkness at Barton-on-Sea, whose last hole over water overlooks Solent’s famous Needles landmark.

A final against Hockley would likely be a needle affair with no quarter given, as a repeat of the 2013 final at Weybrook Park, when the Channel Islanders triumphed in the pouring rain.

Royal Jersey include teenage prospect Aiden Williams, who is the youngest player in the finals, at just 13, and boasting a 100 per cent record from his four matches, against Wheatlands, La Moye, 2022 finalists Les Ormes, and L’Ancresse.

The youngster beat L’Ancresse greenkeeper Wayne Moore 2&1 in the second match out to put the visitors in front before Guernsey player Tom Le Hurray won at the 19th against Kevin Therin in the top match to make it 1-1.

The Guernsey Champions then went 3-1 up as Steve Mahy, a finalist in the 2007 Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Amateur Championship, and Jack Mitchell beat Royal Jersey’s Philip Grehan and Jason Byrne 2&1 and 3&1 respectively.

But Paul Le Rougetel and Chris Huelin produced 5&3 wins over the hosts’ Sam Le Hurray and George Melhuish to tie the match at 3-3.

The result rested on Sam Quail’s match against L‘Ancresse’s Sean Mills. Sevens captain Dan Burchell said: “Sam has had a great season in Jersey Golf. For the last match, you need a cool head under pressure and Sam provided just that.

“He made a brilliant par on the 17th to close out the match. To win from 3-1 down is something I am really proud of. The lads all dug very deep and get their reward to fight for the title at Rowlands Castle.

“They were very confident going into the match but we showed a lot of fight and character from a tough position, especially away from home. I think it was a bit of a surprise for L’Ancresse on home soil.”

Minnows Les Mielles produced arguably the biggest shock in the County Seven’s 56 finals, beating all-comers despite what are regarded as challenging conditions at the course – which the tight-but-small band of members don’t own.

Royal Jersey can reignite their love affair with the Sevens by matching their wins in 1983, 2005 and 2013 – if they can see off Southwick Park in the morning semis.

The golf course on the back of Portsdown Hill, overlooking Portsmouth’s historic harbour, was part of HMS Dryad – the Royal Navy’s former School of Navigation for some 50 years.

The 18 holes are just a mid-iron from Southwick House where keen golfer General Eisenhower masterminded the D-Day invasion of Normandy 80 years ago.

The golf club was founded by the Royal Navy in 1977 – today the Royal Military Police are based in the famous house.

The Navy relinquished control of the golf set-up in 2010 and it is managed by a board of directors, who lease the course from the MoD, having agreed to keep membership open to the Armed Forces.

Picturesque Southwick Park is very much in the same boat as Les Mielles 12 months ago, with no real pedigree of producing players at the elite end of the amateur game.

But their Sevens team have found a formula for success in the knockout competition, and going all the way to the final would be another fairy tale in the Sevens’ seven decades of history.

Hockley and Liphook, which like Royal Jersey, also stage the blue riband county championship, will no doubt fancy their chances should Southwick Park pull off a shock and knock out the Channel Island champions.

Southwick Park knocked out last year’s Sevens Finals’ hosts Lee-on-the-Solent in the second round after getting a bye. That 5-2 win set up a clash with Meon Valley, finalists in 2016, who were despatched by the same score.

With six-time Sevens champions Rowlands Castle in the top half of the draw, Ryde fancied their chances of reaching the last final for the first time since 2017 after ending the 2018 winners hopes of playing the finals on home soil for the second time this century.

But Southwick pulled off a 4-3 in their quarter-final in the East and Isle of Wight quartile and reach the last four for the first time in the club’s 47-year history.

In the North quartile of the draw, Liphook knocked out Sherfield Oaks, with a 6-1 win before ending Test Valley’s hopes of a first Sevens win, courtesy of a 4-3 win.

The East Hampshire club ended any hopes of Army GC drawing level with Rowlands Castle’s record six wins to set up a quarter-final with Alton, but the one-side last eight clash saw Liphook drop just half a point on their way to the last four.

Former Hampshire Golf Union secretary and president Keith Maplesden, who was also a past Liphook president, passed away last summer.

The county’s South East League-winning team dedicated their win to the much-missed amateur  administrator and supporter, who was also a friend to the many players who went on to represent their country after playing for Hampshire.

They included European Tour players Justin Rose, Matthew Blackey, Richard Bland, Sam Hutsby and Brabazon Trophy winners Neil Raymond and Darren Wright, among scores of other players who wore the Hampshire blue from the early ’90s onwards.

A final win for Liphook – who reached the last four in 2014 – would be fitting, and no doubt be dedicated to the former IBM accountant, known across the country as a fine and popular ambassador for Hampshire Golf over the past 30 years.

Hockley, whose last win came in 2008, overcame last year’s surprise finalists New Forest Golf Club in the first round, then knocked out Alresford, who won their second Inter-Club Knockout title in 2000.

A win by 5½-½ set up a quarter-final with 2022 champion Bramshott Hill, who play at Dibden Golf Centre, but were beaten 5-1 when they travelled to Twyford Down.

Brokenhurst Manor are another of the county’s so-called bigger clubs, with a strong category one membership. But with the Sevens having a maximum handicap of 15, the most successful clubs in recent history have had a seven-man team with combined handicaps in the high 50s or low 60s.

With Hockley not using any of their players used to competing in scratch events, they beat the New Forest club 4½-2½, after Brokenhurst had beaten Romsey, Corhampton and South Winchester to reach the last eight.
•HAMPSHIRE SEVENS MAINLAND DRAW
•CHANNEL ISLAND RESULTS