Clacton and Braintree will fly the north and mid Essex flag in the quarter finals of the countywide Thornton Challenge Cup.

In the third round of the competition, Clacton built their victory on an outstanding morning in the foursomes against Rochford Hundred.

Not used to playing that format, the club won all five pairings.

The partnerships of Stewart Locke/Dale Robertson, Jason Levermore/Peter Hewett, Danny Thomas/Graham Frost, Peter Hart/Steve Yates, and Aaron Ward/Jaiwan Rai meant Clacton had a virtually unassailable lead and they eased up in the singles.

The final victory margin was 13-2 and Clacton next face Hainault Forest, the only public course left in the competition.

Having reached the last eight of the Leslie Wood Championship the previous week, Braintree made it a club double with a 9-6 win against Warley Park at Stisted.

In the foursomes, Braintree found themselves 2-1 down. But Andi Pye and Robert Barrell, all square after 17, managed victory on the final hole, and 2-2 became 3-2 to Braintree after Simon Bearman and Martin Hawes took their opponents to the first extra hole and won with a birdie three.

Early afternoon singles honours went to the visitors, with Warley Park securing three points to square the match.

After a win and a loss, Braintree needed two more wins from the last four matches and after some anxious moments, Michael Groves (1 up), Lester Foreman (3&2) and Simon Bearman (2 up) came up trumps to set up a last-eight clash with Orsett.

The Essex, based at Earls Colne, tumbled out, as did Colchester.

The Essex, who were on their best-ever run in the competiton, hosted Hainault Forest and took an early advantage in the foursomes with Dean Grotier and Mark Easterbrook cruising in with a remarkable 9&7 victory.

Rob Smith and David Clark had to go to the 19th hole before securing a point for the home side, while Paul Sewell and Dave Eslick settled their match on the 18th.

With a 3-2 lunchtime lead, expectations were high, but in a closely-fought series of singles, only Dave Allen and Mark Easterbrook secured victories for The Essex.

Colchester had a similarly good morning at Orsett. Victories from John Waterson/Philip Clarke (3&2) and Mike Duley/Chris Booth (5&4) saw them trail just 3-2 at lunch.

But the singles were a disaster with just Alan and Paul Macnaught recording wins.

Third round results:

Braintree 9 Warley Park 6, Clacton 13 Rochford 100 2, Essex G&CC (Earls Colne) 6 Hainault Forest 9, Ilford 5 Wanstead 9, Muswell Hill 9 Boyce Hill 5, Orsett 11 Colchester 4, Romford 10 West Essex 5, Thorpe Hall 13 Abridge 2.

Quarter final draw (to be played August 8): Clacton v Hainault Forest (at Thorpe Hall), Orsett v Braintree (at Clacton), Romford v Muswell Hill (at Wanstead), Thorpe Hall v Wanstead (at Romford).

* all venues are provisional.

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