LUGS – SUGS Friday 3 February 2023 Sandwich
Oh no!
After nine consecutive defeats, LUGS looked to be heading towards a much needed victory against the SUGS as we led 4-2 at lunch. But, whether it is fatigue over 36 holes, the absence of a ‘killer instinct’ or being more familiar with Pret a Manger than proper lunch, we contrived to throw the game away again.
A rather cerebral start on the Thursday saw SUGS historians Mike Morrison and Iain Crawford poring over the Sandwich archives and providing some excellent insight on how they might be presented. And so the informal dinner at the George & Dragon was well deserved as well as convivial. As the Sky Sports draw for the morning unfolded, it looked as if captain John Dennis had learned from previous tactical errors against Andrew Jessop, the SUGS maestro.
This was borne out as the middle order stormed to some impressive wins on a windswept but bright Sandwich morning. With the greens running smoothly and the fairways firm, there was really nowhere else to be but the Kent coast.
Spirits were high among the LUGS as we lunched. But we had been there before so strong afternoon execution was imperative. When the team sheet appeared, there were more crossings out than clean entries; had John lost his nerve? Was there coherence to his masterplan?
As the games came in towards five o’clock, a familiar pattern had re-emerged. Joe Park and Sam Campbell fought back valiantly to secure a half – as they left the course they thought the timely ten footer on 18 was surely enough to see us through…..
As ever though, it does not take long to put the game behind us and Sandwich laid on a magnificent feast under the watchful eye of Laidlaw Purves. Good humour and fine speeches made for a tremendous evening and the teams reaffirmed, as if it was needed, their affection for this fine fixture. SUGS President, Nigel Watt, had come south to watch and provide sage advice to his team for the afternoon. Captain Gordon Simmonds, who had played in many of the early games in the nineties, made a very welcome return to the contest and amused with his historical anecdotes. Match manager, Andrew Jessop, also made a very fine speech introducing us to the magnificent new trophy which the SUGS presented for the fixture. The rugby ball that sits atop the magnificent silver base has inscribed on it all of the signatures of the rugby players that appear on the aged ‘Falconer Ball’. How kind of the SUGS!
Everyone left in high spirits – what a way to start the year!
Morning Matches
| LUGS | SUGS | ||
| James Bull/Felix Bottomley | Anthony Shields/Callum Connacher | Win | |
| Nick Holt/Joe Park | Win | Sandy Farmer/Simon Holt | |
| Hugh Maurice/Sam Campbell | Win | Ewan Cameron/David Greenshields | |
| John Dennis/Alex Modgill | Jonny Calder/Gordon Simmonds | Win | |
| Neil Falconer/Sean Dryden | Win | Iain Crawford/Mike Morrison | |
| Nicola Taylor/Nick Kershaw | Win | Fraser McCluskey/Andrew Jessop | |
| 4 | 2 |
Afternoon Matches
| LUGS | SUGS | ||
| Hugh Maurice/Sean Dryden | Callum Connacher/Simon Holt | Win | |
| Nicola Taylor/Nick Kershaw | David Greenshields/Mike Morrison | Win | |
| Nick Holt/Alex Modgill | Andrew Jessop/Anthony Shields | Win | |
| Sam Campbell/Joe Park | Halved | Jonny Calder/Iain Crawford | Halved |
| John Dennis/Felix Bottomley | Ewan Cameron/Sandy Farmer | Win | |
| Neil Falconer/James Bull | Win | Fraser McCluskey/Gordon Simmonds | |
| 1 1/2 | 4 1/2 |
SUGS wins by 6 ½ to 5 ½
London University Golfing Society 