FOLLOWING the Christmas break, all eyes were turned upon the first round of the Captains Cup team competition as the players resumed battle.
Three matches were played, ironically all hosted by the teams at Bolehill Institute due to a strange quirk of the draw.
First up were the No 1 team who entertained the Matlock Club and eventually ran out winners by 288-232 in a competition traditionally decided on total aggregate points.
Colin Marchington and Ian Birks won both their singles and doubles matches to decide the issue while Graeme Wood and Paul Holmes were on target for the visitors.
The No 2 team took on last years double winners PJ'z No 1 of Ripley the following night and put up a brave battle for a while.
Sean O'Sullivan and Dwayne Martin lost narrowly to Ben Monk and Andrew Gratton respectively before Keith Robertson edged Bolehill back into it through defeating John Smith.
But that was as good as it got as Lee Whatton and then the doubles combo of Ben (with a 34 break) and James Rowland saw the trophy holders through by 344-268.
Next up came the No 3 team up against the Edgefold Club of Matlock and once Martyn Taylor (23 break) and Matthew Travis had put the visitors 80pts in front after two frames the writing was on the wall.
To the home team's credit they fought back well, taking the remaining three frames courtesy of Mick Bunting and Ian Peacock twice (including with Martin Forster in the final doubles), but were still adrift by 268-224 at the end of proceedings.
Unfortunately, PJ'z No 2 of Ripley missed their fixture at Matlock Golf Club due to an oversight, but will go straight into the Plate competition later in the season as some compensation, as will all the losers in rounds one and two.
Captains Cup team competition 1st round: Bolehill Institute No 1 (3) 288, Matlock Club (2) 232; Bolehill Institute No 2 (1) 268, PJ'z Club Ripley No 1 (4) 344; Bolehill Institute No 3 (3) 224, Edgefold Club Matlock (2) 268; Matlock Golf Club w/o PJ'z Club Ripley No 2 scr.
