The Yorkshire team looked chipper as they descended for breakfast at 6.30am this morning. Full of expectation for the day ahead after a perfect first days play with two 5 matches to nil victories.
Session 3 was against current Champions Cheshire who had suffered defeat at the hands of Lancashire on day 1.
The mornings campaign which unusually started at the 10th hole, commenced with winning partnership Abigail Taylor and Katie Stephens taking on Cheshires Lauren Jones and Sophie Clayton. It was to be a humdinger of a match and one which looked to be going Cheshires way as the finishing line approached. The Yorkshire pair were one down faced with the final hole, the 9th. Taylor had a 30’ putt for a birdie 2 which just lipped out. Cheshire were in the bunker with their tee shot but Clayton played a stunning bunker shot to within 3’. It looked like a certain Cheshire opening win but, as happens in the game of golf, the put was missed and Yorkshire secured an excellent half.

In the second match of the morning Yorkshire fielded another rookie, Milly Russell a Ganton member played with fellow Ganton player Amy Staveley. The Cheshire pair of Rian Moores and Erin Parker were always in control and when the much expected heavy rain started to fall the curtain fell on the Yorkshire duo who never really got into the match. A 7 and 5 win to Cheshire . Russell has gained much needed experience in this her county match week debut.

The 3 singles matches were always going to be tough as Cheshire were looking to avenge the Lancashire defeat.
Yorkshire Champion Lily Hirst led the charge against fearsome competitor and ex Cheshire Champion Lucy Jameson .
This match also was veering Cheshire's way but 3 unexpected halves and a jelly baby boost brought the match back in sight and put a big smile on Hirst’s face. She won the 8th to bring the match back to level.On the final hole, the par 3 9th a par secured victory for Hirst. 3 straight singles wins for Hirst who is looking in imperious form.

In the second singles match Cherry Marley played Isabella Taylor Stokes . Marley got away to a fast start with arrow straight drives splitting the fairways. 3 up very quickly.
Stokes settled and started to play confident golf which saw her bring the match back to level.
A few heart stopping putts missed by Marley as she attacked the hole gave Stokes a one shot lead. Marley kept her cool and speaking as her caddy for the morning it was always within her grasp to snatch the match. Stokes pulled the match back to level on the 4th, holes 5 and 6 were halved so only two holes left to snatch victory. Marley remained ice cold and won the final two holes. Another win for Yorkshire.

In the final match Mia Eales Smith was against Cheshire Champion Emily McBurney.
What can one say about Mia Eales Smith other than any county would like to have her on their team. The first 5 holes were halved and then Eales Smith opened the burners and won six successive holes. After that it was only going to go one way and Eales-Smith took the match 7 and 5.
Yorkshire 3.5/Cheshire 1.5.
Go Yorkshire!!

It was a speedy turn around for the Yorkshire team this afternoon as they went out in the second sequence of matches this morning but the first sequence this afternoon.
Sandwiches were gulped, batteries hastily charged and an attempt at drying out wet clothes were made.
Cherry Marley and Molly Campbell took the top spot in foursomes with Katie Stephens and Abigail Taylor playing in the second match-there fourth of the week.
Marley got the putter going this afternoon after being a little disappointed with it in her morning singles match. This pairing played and won in the opening match and this afternoon was no different . Molly Campbell belying her 14 years and helping the dump to win the match 4 and 3.
Things were going well for Taylor and Stephens in the second match. When Durham looked likely to win the hole on the 5th with a par, Taylor thwarted them with a chip in off the green to halve. The Yorkshire pair stayed 2 up and were never down in the match.
Stephens sunk a monster putt on the par 5 8th to secure a birdie and another hole won. Despite a prolonged spell of sickness and dizziness for Taylor, starting on the 10th hole, she somehow managed to stay upright and hit solid approach shots to greens finally securing the win on the 15th hole 4 and 3.
In the singles Mia Eales Smith battled hard against Jess Hall but eventually suffered her first defeat of the week going down 3 and 2. It was to be the only loss of the session .
Amy Staveley playing solid golf to beat Faye Wheatley 5 and 4 and Lily Hirst securing her fourth win of the week with a 5 and 4 win over Amy Sutherland.
Day 2 over and 4 wins in the bag, just arch rivals Lancashire to go!!!

What can one say about this Yorkshire team?
What an opening days play by every member of the team.
The opening days play saw matches against hosts Cumbria in the morning and Northumberland in the afternoon.
With Yorkshire having travelled with three rookies in the team it’s fair to say the nerves were on display early doors.
The Yorkshire team opened proceedings with strong and usually reliable foursomes pairing of Katie Stephens and Abigail Taylor. They would probably agree with the writer when I say that the initial holes were a little scrappy!!! A knobbly here and a bobble there led to a remarkable 3 up lead after 4 holes.
This was not to last. The Cumbria pairing of Molly Davies and Jodie Hodgson staged a come back with par golf at the 5th/6th/7th and 8th holes.
The nerves for Taylor and Stephens only steadied when Taylor sank a longish putt on the par 4 11th to secure a half. This seemed to settle the par who then went on to win the match in comfortable style 3 and 1.
The second match of the morning saw rookie Molly Campbell partnered with the OAKS player CHERRY MARLEY .Campbell came into this tournament with enthusiasm and confidence and a certain amount joie de vivre!!
It translated into a win for the pair with Marley outdriving her opponent on the 17th tee by 105 yards and Campbell demonstrating some fabulous chip shots. The camaraderie in the opening two foursomes matches was contagious.

In the singles Lily Hirst, Yorkshire Champion, led off against Cumbria's Caitlin Whitehead.
Hirst had grown in stature since spending time on the US college circuit and she put in a solid performance winning 7 and 6 helped by driving the par 4 11th and chipping in for 3 on the 2nd hole par 3.
Mia Eales Smith a Yorkshire stalwart played superb golf. She is a dogged match play player. She struck the ball beautifully and was never under pressure winning her match against Abi Roper 7 & 6.
The final match saw GANTON player Amy Staveley take on CUMBRIA'S Katie Sibley.
Despite suffering a nasty insect bite which swelled rapidly during the match , Staveley won the day 5 and 3.
The afternoon match against Northumberland saw another rookie making her Yorkshire 1st team debut. Hope Williams, a Thirsk and Northallerton player, was partnered with Amy Staveley in the second foursomes match.
The first match saw Taylor and Stephens retained in partnership take on Rebecca Ferguson and Antonia Emerson. It was a different mind set for the Yorkshire pair from the morning match. They came out full of positivity and with opening 3’s on the first 2 holes were away to a fast start, 2 up.
The pairing played beautiful golf and the Northumberland pairing were always under pressure. It was an object lesson in foursomes play, teamwork, mutual support, no blame for mistakes and tremendous camaraderie between the two.
A stunning performance on holes 10-13 completely buried the Northumberland pair and Yorkshire ran out winners 6 and 5. It would be remiss not to mention Stephens drive on the par 4 11th which was driven to within 2.5’ of the hole.
Similarly Taylor played a stunning approach shot on the par 5 12th to within 2 inches.
Incredible.
In the second match Rookie Williams and Staveley ground out a 3/2 victory against Jude Moore and June Lomax. The Yorkshire pair didn’t have it all their own way and it took a forty foot putt on the 9th by Staveley to get the match back to all square.
The match swung in Yorkshires favour when a fantastic second shot onto the green by Staveley at the par 4 14th led to a solid put holed by Williams to go 2 up.

The singles matches in the afternoon were initially very much in Northumberland's favour but all the Yorkshire players showed real grit and determination bringing the matches around by the latter stages.
Lily Hirst again showing her class went 2 up with 2 to play at 16. She gained victory by solid play in the final two holes winning her match against Zara Norton.
Cherry Marley also went 2 up at the 16th and equally finished in fine style winning 2 up.
Mia Eales-Smith brought up the rear in the afternoon singles and although being down in the latter stages again showed the class player she is by winning 2 up.

A truly solid day for the Yorkshire team.
10 matches played , 10 wins, dream start.