Northamptonshire’s men completed their preparations for the Anglian League in the best possible way as they thrashed Bedfordshire 11½-3½ in a friendly at Wellingborough GC.
Lewis White (Northampton) and Paul Hodgkiss (Farthingstone) secured the first point with a 4&3 foursomes win, before Michael Campbell (Kettering) and home member Kyson Lloyd halved game two.
Fraser Carnihan (Brampton Heath) and Dan Ashcroft (Northants County) carded a three on the opening four holes as they extended the County lead with a 4&2 success.
Although Miles Mudge (Staverton) and Harry Woan (Overstone) lost 3&2, Overstone’s Tom Anderson sank a huge putt on the 18th to grab another home point in partnership with Nick Herridge (Brampton).
From the moment White strolled in with an 8&6 singles victory under his belt, the afternoon session couldn’t have gone much better for the hosts as they dominated the remaining ties.
Lloyd came through 2&1, Hodgkiss won seven out of nine holes around the turn to triumph 4&3, before Carnihan guaranteed the County at least a draw with victory on the 18th hole.
Campbell wasted little time in confirming the Northants team win with a 2&1 success, Ashcroft closed out his game on the same hole, before Anderson bagged a 4&2 victory.
Although Woan lost 2&1, Herridge edged a tight contest on the 18th, while Mudge’s battling comeback came just too late to grab another victory.
With lead man Ryan Evans (Wellingborough) set to return, team captain Jim Campbell faces some tough decisions before announcing his side against Leicestershire at Luffenham Heath on May 12.