Surrey Golf YearBook 2019 | Page 26

U14 TEAM – MANAGER BRIAN WOODHAM Played 13: Won 13 Halved 0 Lost 0 SQUAD MEMBERS: Nathan Woodham, Rocky Chapman, Aidan Millham, Tom Kelly, Oliver Wren, Hashim Banday, Luca Knowles, Cameron Cridge, Kris Kim, Edward Dimayuga, Buster O’Callaghan, Leo Vorobyev, Sam Wood, James Munns, Stirling Halai-Carter, Oscar Lent. For the first time at U14 level, we found ourselves at a crossroads with the County Squad, Previously, we have a glut of talent at this age group but this year we needed to dip into our U13 and U12 squads to supplement out team – which in itself bodes well for the future. But don’t be mistaken, this group of boys did not let us down, they went out and played some extraordinary golf and competed in every competition, with some great results. What it did show was just how much depth we have in the younger age groups, and couple that with the excellent training these boys receive at County Level, means that the next few years should bring some good success for the boys coming through. Apart from the annual friendlies that are played each year with the other Counties the real focus for the U14 team was the U14 Inter Counties League which is contested by Essex, Kent, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey and Sussex. The Counties are drawn into two zones of three with the winners of each zone playing a final to determine the champions. Our zone opponents this year were Hampshire and Hertfordshire and Kent, which we comfortably came through after winning 6 matches and not dropping a point. This took as to a final match at Tandridge Golf course against rivals Kent, who were looking very strong in their qualifying campaign. What a final it was though…….a beautiful day on a great course, with the Surrey team comfortably winning by 17 points to 7 points and thus retained the Inter Counties title yet again. There was also the “Sussex Salver”, a triple match played annually against Sussex & Hampshire. Surrey were the holders and had been for six years and with this terrific group of players they weren’t going to let it go out of the County without a fight. But what a fight they were in for! Surrey hosted the event, at West Surrey Golf Course, on what was one of the wettest days of the year. Home advantage gave Surrey a slight advantage and they used that to good stead and gaining victory with the final scores reading Surrey 35 points, Sussex 29 points, Hampshire 11 points. It was good to win this title back again!!! The season had without doubt been an excellent one for this age group of players and bodes well for U15’s next year. U14 Match results: Friendly Matches played Surrey v Middlesex 25th April at Hampton GC (12 a side) Surrey won 22 pts to 2 pts Surrey v Dorset 11th August at Wellington College Surrey beat Dorset 9pts to 3pts Surrey v BB&O 9th October at Wellington College Surrey won 16pts to 8pts Sussex Salver Match Surrey v Sussex v Hampshire 29th July at West Surrey GC (12 a side) Team: Nathan Woodham, Rocky Chapman, Aidan Millham, Tom Kelly, Hashim Banday, Luca Knowles, Cameron Cridge, Kris Kim, Edward Dimayuga, Buster O’Callaghan, Leo Vorobyev, Sam Wood Result: Surrey 35pts, Hampshire 11pts, Sussex 29pts. Surrey won the Salver back! - 26 -