The Northumberland team got their 2026 Northern Counties Men’s League season off to a winning start against Cheshire, as Yorkshire drew in Cumbria and Durham drew in Lancashire.
Northumberland sits top of the table after round one following an 11-7 win over Cheshire at Alnmouth Golf Club. Having taken a 4.5-1.5 lead in the morning foursomes, the afternoon singles were considerably closer – with Mark Wharton, Cameron Thoburn, county captain Andrew Minnikin, Andrew Griffiths, Rob Henderson and Dan Bullen, who earned his county colours with his singles victory, securing six wins as Angus Buchanan earned half a point.
Durham faced a tough test to open their campaign as they travelled to Ormskirk to face Lancashire. Following a narrow 3.5-2.5 loss in the foursomes, the team rallied in the afternoon with wins for Jack Richardson, Wayne Melles, Lewis Rowley, Chris Brown, Grant Dixon and Martin McCririck and a half point for Dominic Moon securing 6.5 points and a 9-9 draw in captain Mark Walker’s first match in charge.
Defending champions Yorkshire also started their campaign away from home, facing Cumbria at Kirkby Lonsdale.
Having won the morning foursomes 3.5-2.5, Yorkshire’s Charlie Daughtrey, Max Reynolds, Lewis Harrison, Bailey Hird and Matt Dolling picked up singles points as Lewis Hollingworth earned a half and the spoils were shared with both teams scoring nine points.
The next round of Northern Counties Men’s League matches takes place on June 13-14 – with Durham facing Cumbria at Durham City, Northumberland taking on Lancashire at Seahouses, and Cheshire hosting Yorkshire at Bromborough.
For full results from the Northumberland v Cheshire match, click here.
For full results from the Lancashire v Durham match, click here.
For full results from the Cumbria v Yorkshire match, click here.
