BY ANDREW GRIFFIN
HAMPSHIRE under-16s were inspired by Europe’s heroics in the Ryder Cup as they went out at the same time as the Sunday singles in Paris to clinch the South East League for the first time, beating Suffolk and Hertfordshire at The Dyke.
Hampshire beat East Division winners Suffolk 7-1 but Hertfordshire were much tougher opposition.
The North Division winners held Hampshire to a 4-4 draw, giving manager Wayne Matthews’ side victory, after Hertfordshire beat Suffolk 6-2.
The victory also denied Hertfordshire an under-16s and under-18s South East League double.
Starring for the team were Meon Valley’s Nick Matthews, who was also a member of the Hampshire under-18 team this summer, and Hayling’s Jame Hellyer, who won his match against Hertfordshire 6&5.
Three of the team will move into the under-18s squad for next season to join Matthews and Liphook’s English Schools South West Champion Sam West, who claimed the crucial point to take the title with a 3&2 victory in the bottom match against Hertfordshire.
South Winchester’s Josh Mulcahy was beaten early in the fifth match, only for Hellyer to level at 1-1 almost immediately by winning on the 13th.
But the top four matches were all tight affairs with everyone reaching the 17th.
Freeman, at the top of the order, won on the last and Bramshaw’s Joe Buenfeld claimed the 17th to go three up to make it 3-1 to Hampshire.
But Hockley’s Tom Chalk and Matthews were both beaten 2&1 as Hertfordshire levelled up the scores, only for Barton-on-Sea’s Josh Caffyn to also lose 2&1.
It was left to West to ensure history was made by Hampshire.
Hampshire claimed the South Division title – also for the first time – by beating Kent and Sussex at Royal Ashdown in the final league match of the season earlier in September, to qualify for the final at the end of the month.
Despite Sussex having home advantage Mulcahy watched his team inflict a 5.5-2.5 victory over the hosts in the triangular match, while recording a 5-3 win over Kent to claim their first silverware of the season.
Stoneham’s Hampshire junior champion James Freeman picked up maximum points along with West to ensure Hampshire reached the final.
A delighted Wayne said: “Our under-16 team have been together for a number of years and the bond and team spirit and belief wins you matches.
“The boys had been watching the first two days of the Ryder Cup and just wanted to get out there and emulate their heroes.
“Having a Hampshire legend like Justin Rose starring in the Ryder Cup is a massive inspiration for all our players. After all, he played in the same events as they do when he was a boy.
“The boys are a credit to their clubs and parents, as well as the county, and for the juniors in our under-10s, under-12s and under-14s to now look up to.”
Hampshire won four of their six under-16 matches this summer, drawing the other two to go unbeaten, and picked up 28 points out a possible 48.
Their progress will raise Hampshire’s hopes of reaching the 2019 English Boys’ finals for the first time since 2015.
The under-18s qualified as South East champions three times in four years from 2012 – when future British Amateur champions Harry Ellis and Scott Gregory were in the squad along with Walker Cup team-mate Jack Signh-Brar.
Corhampton’s Jamie Markwick, who became just the second Hampshire player to win the South East Junior Championship at Moor Park in July, still has one more season in the junior ranks.
After the under-18s could not cash in home advantage when hosting the South East Boys’ qualifier at Blackmoor back in July, Hampshire’s junior team managers cannot wait for next season.
Team: James Freeman (Stoneham), Joe Buenfeld (Bramshaw), Tom Chalk (Hockley), Nick Matthews (Meon Valley/Newport), Josh Mulcahy (South Winchester), James Hellyer (Hayling), Josh Caffyn (Barton-on-Sea), Sam West (Liphook).