THE Wiltshire county team, who defeated Glamorgan 91/2-51/2 in their opening fixture at Cumberwell Park last month, kept up their Daily Telegraph Channel League momentum with a 9-6 victory over Cornwall at Bowood and Country Club, writes Ernie Newell.

Alistair James and his men went into lunch after the foursomes 4-1 ahead and then wrapped the match up in double-quick time by winning the first four singles.

Cornwall salvaged some pride by winning five of the last six games to reduce their losing margin to three.

Wrag Barn's Richard Scarrott, who is soon to turn professional, said goodbye to county golf with a flourish with a sparkling full two-point performance.

The 20-year-old joined forces with Sam Elkins (South Wilts) to beat Dave Marshall and Richard Simmons in the foursomes by two and one and then thrashed Rob Cook in the singles by six and four.

Skipper Alistair James, who scored 11/2 points in the opener against Cornwall, maintained his unbeaten record with maximum points.

Miles Mackman also notched up two points, winning the top singles against Westgate by one hole.

Wiltshire champion and England Under 21 Squad player Sam Matton (Bowood) and Wrag Barn's Ben Loughrey also came away from the Derry Hill club with full points.

"It was another great victory," said Alistair James, who is in the first of his two years at Wiltshire's helm and hoping to lead the county to the league title for the first time since 2000.

Scarrott, a former Kingsdown schoolboy from South Marston, has played for the county with distinction since the age of 15, and his decision to go professional will be a blow to Wiltshire amateur golf.

Foursomes: Sam Matton (Bowood) and Ben Loughrey (Wrag Barn) beat Alex Magregor and Antony Nash 1 up; Miles Mackman (Broome Manor) and Alistair James (Cumberwell Park) beat Rob Magregor and Ben Westgate 6/5; Charlie James (Cumberwell Park) and Matt Swales (Cumberwell Park) lost to Richard Ackland and Josh Greenaway 2 down; Richard Scarrott (Wrag Barn) and Sam Elkins (South Wilts) beat Dave Marshall and Richard Simmons 2/1; Jack Hiscock (Marlborough) and Mike White (West Wilts) beat Rob Cook and Matt Floyd 5/4.

Singles: Mackman beat Westgate 1 up; Loughrey beat R Magregor 3/2; Matton beat Floyd 2/1; A James beat Ackland 1 up; Swales lost to A Magregor 2/1; Elkins lost to Greenaway 6/5; C James lost to Nash 3/2; Scarrott beat Cook 6/4; Hiscock lost to Marshall 3/2; White lost to Simmons 2/1.

Wiltshire's next league match is against Gloucestershire at The Wiltshire on Sunday, June 22.

9:00am Saturday 17th May 2008

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