Northampton ended Kettering’s unbeaten start to the Scratch League season in emphatic style as they completed an incredible 7-1 away victory in the second division.
The visitors, who beat Rushden in their first match a fortnight earlier, got off to a great start as Simon Brown and Ross Skidmore collected points with three holes to spare.
Andy Limbert defeated Nigel Armstrong on the closing hole to make it 3-0, before Dean Roberts guaranteed at least a draw for Northampton with a 3&1 success.
Although the hosts got themselves on the scoreboard thanks to a one-hole win for Rob Stevenson, any fears of a remarkable turnaround ended when Lloyd Skidmore beat Kettering’s Nick Keech on the 18th.
Northampton displayed their ruthless streak by taking the final two ties on the 16th hole as Simon Williams overcame Rod Handyside and Lewis White beat his county first team colleague Michael Campbell.
Kingsthorpe had to settle for a draw for the second time in two outings as they finished all square at Collingtree Park, who were playing their opening match since promotion last year.
After drawing at home to Kettering a fortnight earlier, Kingsthorpe will feel they should have taken maximum points after winning the first four matches.
Steve Jackson and Jason Spence recorded big wins early on, before Kris Spence and Max Armstrong added further away points in the next two matches.
Kingsthorpe’s father and son Paul and Jake Croxford both lost on the 17th, before Brendon Moss kept Collingtree’s hopes of a draw alive by defeating Mark Bazeley 2&1 in the penultimate tie.
The hosts used all their experience in the final match as they snatched a draw when Ray Connolly beat Jack Walding 3&2.
Farthingstone maintained their unbeaten start to their division three campaign as they ended Brampton Heath’s perfect winning record with a 4½-3½ home victory.
Sam Bird won the opening tie for the hosts 3&1, the second match was halved, before Harry Brown drew Brampton level by defeating John Whitaker.
Although Darren Matthews and Ian Donald recorded good home wins, with Brampton’s Fraser Carnihan and Jack Brown securing the last two points, the overall result came down to the fifth game.
Brampton’s Ollie Salter appeared in control when he took a two-hole lead to the 12th tee, only for home member Bradley Wardell to win the next five holes and clinch a 3&2 victory.
Whittlebury Park collected their first win of the campaign as they kept their nerve in most of the tight games against Priors Hall in a 5½-2½ home victory.
Brian Aitken and Sam Henfrey recorded convincing home wins, but it was the one-hole victories for Simon Orrey, James Coveney and Jon Newman that proved decisive for Whittlebury.
Oundle made a winning start to their division four campaign as they condemned Stoke Albany to a third successive defeat with a 7-1 away victory.
The result never looked in doubt once Gary Rice, debutant Steve Oldham and David Young strolled in with 4&3 victories under their belts in the opening three games.
Stoke’s only realistic hope of a point came from John Knibbs but he lost the last three holes to halve with Dean Montgomerie, before Sean Turner sealed the Oundle win on the 17th hole.
Away pair Luke Wyatt and Andy Saunders were also successful on the penultimate hole, before Joel Tadman wrapped a comprehensive victory by taking the final game 5&4.