BELFAIRS Golf Club played host to Southend in the bi-annual Roger Foreman challenge and for the second successive occasion the match went right to the wire.

Thirty-two players from each club took part in the greensomes event and the match produced excellent golf in fine conditions.

Southend needed an outright victory to reclaim the shield that they last won in Spring 2005.

The previous match was an exact tie at 8-8, even with countback, and Belfairs retained the trophy as holders.

Lightning nearly struck twice as again the match finished 8-8 on Sunday, but Belfairs again won it, this time on countback, to retain the shield despite Southend roaring into an early 4-1 lead.

Alan Gribbon the Belfairs captain received the trophy at the clubhouse from his Southend counterpart Mick Edmunds, Gribbon also received his share of banter in the clubhouse as his match was concluded on the 12th after Edmunds and partner Dave Buckley were in awesome form to defeat Gribbon and Peter Mahoney in the battle of the captains and vice captains.

Some thought the Belfairs captain, who has been in fine touch this season, had left the course early to prepare the lunch.

This event has proved very popular between the friends and rivals of the two long established clubs playing at Belfairs and everyone had another great day on Sunday. The two teams will again lock horns in October with Southend hosting.

Full scores: (Belfairs first) R Allan/R Whale lost to P Kreyling/B Kreyling (3 & 2). J Howley/R Beadell bt J Kreyling Jnr/D Kreyling (5 & 3), D Smith/J Gregory lost to L Lauczzari/TBurgess (1 up), M Mahoney/G Dale lost to R Threadgold/D Seymour (2 &1), A Gribbon/P Mahoney lost to M Edmunds/D Buckley (7&6), B Meddle/K Gough bt I Kreyling/M Barnes (5&4), A Fagg/N Warder bt C Brett/B Highstead (1 up), I Mudie/L Alden bt I Spooner/A MacDonald (4&2), T Innard/M Duguid lost to C Wyatt/C Fulker (4&3), D Taylor/H Brown bt P Eley/M Brennan (2 & 1), A Pace/J Trendell lost to J Gosling/K Lapage (2 up), T Steel/M Kett lost to I Pascoe/D Crumpon (2&1), H Smith/P Hance bt A Langdon/R Johnson (3 & 1), B Harvey/A Berry bt D Grimble/I Aston (4 & 3). A Meddle/A Nash tied with K Turner/B Hull, T Silverton/G Carter tied with V Askew/T James.

l BELFAIRS held a single bogey on Saturday for its members and it was a keenly contested affair as competitors found it tough going in the event where players can afford few mistakes as they look to par the course or better.

Peter Mahoney (14) found his two-week holiday without his golf clubs agreeable as the vice captain'solid one under was just enough to take first place from Jon Howley (10).

The latter followed up last week's medal success to grab second spot with a level par.

Graeme Dale's one over was enough for the 14 handicapper to take third prize.