HAMPSHIRE face a crunch match against Sussex in early July which they need to win to remain in the hunt to reach the Daily Telegraph South-East Golf League final for the first time since 2014.

After losing 7-5 to Kent, despite a sterling fightback in the singles, at Royal Cinque Ports on Sunday, Hampshire must beat Sussex to go into their final game of the season against Surrey, at Hindhead, in August to stand any realistic chance of claiming the South Division crown.

Sussex beat Kent 7-5 a week ago and face Surrey at Seaford this weekend before travelling to the New Forest on July 2.

A Hampshire victory would mean a win in the last game against Surrey would probably see the title decided on game points difference – assuming Kent also beat Dorset and Surrey.

Captain Martin Young will have the added comfort of facing Sussex on his home track at Brokenhurst Manor after the 46-year-old returned to the eight-man line-up, having been forced to sit out last week’s 81/2-31/2 win over Dorset because of a family christening.

It is five years since Hampshire claimed the Telegraph Salver. Young’s team were unable to capitalise on their winning start when they travelled to Cinque Ports– one of Kent’s trio of top links courses that have hosted the Open Championship

Young said: “It was a tough test against a strong team on an even tougher course. It doesn’t get much harder, but we are still in it.

“We fought back well in the afternoon singles, but our foursomes play on the back nine was found a little wanting.”

For the second week running, George Saunders, Meon Valley’s England U16 international, was sent out with Rowlands Castle’s Tom Robson in the top match.

But after last week’s winning start, they lost the 17th to Ollie Daws and James Guppy to go three down.

However, Blackmoor’s Mark Burgess was helped to his third league win in a row by the Isle of Wight’s Jordan Sundborg, back from his golf scholarship at Stirling University as the pair beat Liam Burns and Josh Bristow 3&2.

Young and Royal Jersey veteran Gavin O’Neill were pipped on the last by Kent’s left-hander Mike Bush and Nick Panting.

Hayling’s Toby Burden and former Surrey man Colin Roope also lost by one on the last – to Dan Brown, Kent’s reigning county champion, and Mark Collins, who had both missed their defeat to Sussex.

That extra point would prove decisive after lunch, even though Hampshire came out with all guns blazing on the Deal coast.

Robson handed out a 7&6 drubbing – the old dog licence – to Daws, while Sundborg claimed victory over Burns by one on the last to tie the match up at 3-3.

But Kent were hitting back and Collins and Brown were sent out in the bottom two games, leaving Hampshire needing at least three more points to salvage a draw.

Young beat Panting – also by one on the last – but Burgess experienced defeat for the first time this season, losing 5&4 to Bristow.

O’Neill then lost by two on the last against Guppy and Roope was beaten 6&5 by Brown in the bottom match, which meant Kent could not lose overall.

Burden gave Hampshire hope by beating Bush, one of Kent’s top links players, 3&2 to make it 6-5. But Saunders, who is in his final year in the junior ranks, saw Collins win the 16th to go four up to boost the hosts’ winning margin to 7-5.

ANDREW GRIFFIN