Oswestry withstood a fierce fightback from Hawkstone Park to cement their place as the most successful team in Hargrove Trophy history.

A 13th victory in the winter scratch matchplay knockout was secured when a tense overall victory was secured in the second leg at Hawkstone Park.

The match was tied at 3-3 but the visitors’ nine-hole advantage was enough to clinch victory.

It meant Oswestry defended the title they won in 2008, the first time any team has won back-to-back titles since Llanymynech more than 20 years ago.

And they are already eyeing up a bid to complete an historic hat-trick next year.

“It’s a great achievement to defend the title and full credit to the team,” said captain James Woodward.

“There have been nine players involved in the season and everyone of them has played excellent golf.

“To have the chance to go for three-in-a-row next year will be great and we are already looking forward to trying to achieve that.”

Thwart

Not even a late change in selection plans could thwart Oswestry on Saturday, with Woodward forced to step in as a late replacement for Chris Male who pulled his back in the warm-up.

Defending a 2.5-0.5 lead and a 13 hole advantage from the first leg, Oswestry’s nerves were fraying slightly in the early stages as they fell behind in the all three matches.

Much attention was on the top match where Dave Probert and Jon Janicki then edged ahead for Oswestry against Ashley Chesters and Ricky Pharo.

A short missed putt from Hawkstone on the 17th ensured Oswestry came up the last 1up and, while Chesters and Pharo won the last to seal a half, Oswestry had taken a gigantic step towards hoisting aloft the trophy again.

That half meant Hawkstone had to secure massive victories in each of the bottom two matches.

But while the hosts were victorious in both games, they couldn’t overturn the huge hole deficit they faced from the first leg.

Sam Breakes and Tom Benbow defeated Lee Anslow and Woodward by one hole, while Nigel Chesters and Andrew Porter ran out winners over Chris Smith and Shaun Jones by three holes.

“It was a good effort and in the end it came down to one putt,” said Chesters.

“Oswestry gave us a huge wall to climb after the first leg. We managed to peer our heads over the top but we couldn’t quite climb over.

“But credit to Oswestry. They have got a good team and to retain the trophy is an excellent achievement.”