The morning started with blue skies and a gentle breeze. Suddenly a dark cloud hove into view and conditions deteriorated into a vicious squall with strong winds mixed with stinging hail, the whole effect making you feel like hot needles were being fired at you. All in all, not unlike a sudden visit from my mother-in-law!
Edinburgh beat Haileybury to set up a quarter-final match against Loretto who beat Berkhamsted. Watson’s ran out comfortable winners against Rossall and will play Cheltenham in the quarter-finals. Cheltenham being the surprise package of this year’s tournament, beating Repton comfortably this morning. Tonbridge comfortably despatched Bedford and will play Malvern this afternoon.
Malvern played Rugby in the final morning match and this proved to be the outstanding game of the round. Malvern had lost two matches and needed to win the remaining games in order to survive. In the 5th game, Blanchet and Crisp squeezed a victory out against Plews and Phillips 2/1. This left the 4th game where Malvern were 3 down with 3 to play but, as they have done so often in the past, they pulled of an escape of Houdini like proportions. After taking the game to extra holes, the 19th was halved in 5, Malvern three-putted from distance while Rugby were unable to reach the ditch from the right rough but then played a brave pitch to the tricky front pin position. The second was bravely halved in 4 before Rugby unfortunately landed on the beach off the tee at the 21st. Malvern play Tonbridge this afternoon.
