With the MCCGS Quad at Rye this year following straight on from the Kent Tour, the baton passed from Lance to me in the Diamond Roz in Rye over bottles of Efes and a range of spicy mezzes. The Captain was mightily relieved to no longer be threatened with “Greet big fines” for offences real or dreamt up by Lance.
Despite having a full team and 4 reserves in place by mid-January, in traditional XLGS fashion the final 8 included 3 late substitutes including two co-opted only earlier in the week. My thanks to Tim Robinson, Lance and Mike Halls for stepping in after the loss of the overseas contingent (i.e. those from Hayling) and one other.
Thursday’s weather was a continuation of that enjoyed at Deal and Littlestone – bright and sunny but with a chill wind that strengthened as the day progressed. The morning semi against the Gloucester Gypsies was held on the 12-hole Jubilee course which was clearly less well known to The Captain (despite being a Rye member) than the Old course as at one point we found ourselves playing completely the wrong hole. Despite that and losing not one but two holes in the same round on account of playing the wrong ball (who knew Chris would outdrive a 3 handicapper by 40 yards on one hole?), your author and The Captain managed to triumph with the final putt on the home green. Behind us we chalked up a half and two further wins to triumph 3.5-0.5. Much relief followed at avoiding a repeat of last year’s wooden spoon performance.
A truly splendid Rye lunch of most foods known to man followed, with necessarily relaxed start times in the afternoon, before we faced our recent nemesis in the final, in the guise of our MCC hosts. The Old was a highly formidable challenge in windier and chillier conditions and we unsurprisingly succumbed to a 3-1 defeat to a strong MCC side. Special mention to Messrs Robinson and Ray for chalking up a second win to follow their morning triumph.
Overall a long and challenging day on a pair of wonderful courses in good company.
2025 sees the Gloucester Gypsies hosting, likely at Minchinhampton, and hopefully a week later than this year to avoid a repeat of the fixture congestion.
Daryn Williams, Match Manager
