Northants County ended Wellingborough’s unbeaten start to the Scratch League season as they recorded a 5½-2½ home victory on Monday evening.
Although Jamie Milligan won the opener for Wellingborough 3&2 and Dan Ashcroft clinched his game for County 3&1, there was little to choose between the two sides as the remaining six ties all went the distance.
It was the hosts who held their nerve in the majority of those games however as Alan Linney, Tom Bullough and Tom Duck secured wins, while the other three matches finished all square.
A strong start helped Collingtree collect their first victory in division two as they condemned Rushden to a third successive away loss this year with a 5½-2½ success.
Andy Castell and Jason Hall were convincing winners of the opening two games, before Aidan Rosling made it 3-0 to Collingtree by beating Chris Adams on the last hole.
After Andy Billson added a fourth home point on the 17th hole, while Reece Greenhill confirmed the team victory by defeating Chris Ward 2&1.
Ian Dickerson fought back to grab Rushden’s first point down the 18th, Lewis Miller was also successful for the visitors, before the final match between Simon Cox and Collingtree’s Ray Connolly ended all square.
Brampton Heath moved to the top of the third division standings with a comfortable 6-2 home victory against Priors Hall, who are still chasing their first win of the season.
The hosts got off to the ideal start as Brendan Kelly (4&2), Guy Loveland (2&1) and Harry Brown (3&2) collected early points, before David Gottsch won the 18th hole against Jerry Millar to make it 4-0.
Although the Corby club took the next couple of ties as Michael Chambers defeated Alec Francis 4&3 and Callum Farr overcame Ollie Salter down the last, it proved too little too late.
Fraser Carnihan confirmed the home win with a 5&3 success against Ryan Jaffray, before Jack Brown beat Michael Farr with five holes to spare.
Cold Ashby picked up their first victory of the campaign in emphatic style as they won all eight of their ties at home to Whittlebury Park.
Brad Green (4&3), Gavin Cope (2&1), Jack Collins (3&2), Andy Aveyard (3&2), Stuart Nicholas (5&4), Greg Croxton (2&1), Bob Clayton (8&6) and Graham Bott (3&1) claimed the points.
In division four, Daventry were unable to stop Oundle recording their second emphatic victory of the campaign as they lost 7½-½ away.
In a match slightly closer than the final scoreline suggested, the home side secured an early advantage with wins for Steve Oldham (3&2), Dean Montgomerie (4&3) and Ashley Smith (3&1).
Gary Rice overcame Chris Balic on the 18th hole, Oundle skipper Sean Turner sealed victory by halving his game with Nathan Freezer, before Andy Saunders walked in with a 5&4 success.
After defeating Stoke Albany without losing a game the previous weekend, Oundle maintained that record as Luke Wyatt and Joel Tadman clinched the last two points on the closing hole.