Home advantage proved decisive in the opening two fixtures in group A as Kettering defeated Rushden 16-1, while Brampton Heath overcame last year’s runners-up Wellingborough 15-3.
Although Rushden were a match for Kettering in five of the six ties, any hope of clinching an away victory were scuppered in game three as Nigel Hanger and Mark Hastie recorded a 10-hole home win.
It was a similar story for Wellingborough in their opening contest at Brampton as they trailed by just two points following Charlie Higgins and Chris Herring’s three hole success in the third game.
Home duo Vince Wood and Ian Patton quickly took the result away from Wellingborough however as they completed an eight hole win in the next tie.
In group B, Silverstone have been the busiest team in the early part of the season after playing half of their eight Group B matches already – winning three at home and losing away to Cherwell Edge.
Following a narrow 7-3 loss at their sister club in early April, Silverstone bounced back with a 14-1 success against Daventry before defeating Collingtree 10-1.
The best was to come in their latest match against Kingsthorpe as four comfortable wins in the opening four ties helped them secure a 16-1 win.
Kingsthorpe came into that match in decent form after ending Cherwell unbeaten start to the campaign with a 7-1 home victory.
Collingtree collected their first victory of the season as they defeated Cherwell Edge 18-0 at home.
Once Tony Greenhill and Robert Smout had clinched the opening tie by eight holes, the result never looked in doubt as the hosts recorded three more convincing wins, while the other two games were halved.
The opening group C fixture witnessed a surprise result as Overstone Park completed a 13-1 away victory at Priors Hall.
In an otherwise close contest, Overstone took control in the closing two games as Sean McGrae and Adam Bull triumphed by seven holes, before Ivan Roy and Mark Roberts finished three up.
Staverton Park have set down a marker in group D after beating Delapre home and away in the opening two fixtures.
Although Delapre’s William McAree and Ian Bastow halved their game, it was the only away success in the first game as Staverton recorded a 18-0 victory.
Another whitewash appeared on the cards in the reverse fixture after Staverton won the opening four matches to lead 14-0.
Despite a couple of good wins in the final two games, Delapre were unable to turn the contest around as Staverton completed the first away win in any division this year with a 14-8 triumph.
Delapre looked set for a third successive defeat when they trailed 9-0 at home to Cold Ashby in their next contest, before producing a stunning fightback to win 14-9.
Alan Jones and Stephen Clark won by six, Nigel Hunter and Gerry Gait cut the deficit by two more, before Steven Strange and Paul Farmer completed the comeback with a six hole success.