Gwent Golf Union
Match Report - Channel League Gwent v Wiltshire 28th September 2025
Super-Sub Rowberry Seals Crucial Win for Gwent
At Cumberwell Park, on a blustery yet scorable day, Gwent produced one of their most spirited performances of the season to overcome early adversity and claim a superb away victory over Wiltshire — securing back-to-back wins and, with it, a first top-half Channel League finish in more than a decade.
The morning began in frustration. A late withdrawal meant Gwent were forced to concede a foursomes match before a ball was struck. Yet what might have deflated the side instead seemed to ignite them.
The pairing of Pescod and Westley traded birdies all morning, a closing birdie at the last earning a well-deserved half. Coombes and Palmer followed suit with a flurry of birdies of their own to deliver Gwent’s first full point. Behind them, Matchplay Champion Rob Smith and the ever-consistent David Price were imperious, dispatching their opponents with ease after a barrage of birdies.
There was also a debut to remember for Oli Hulbert, the young junior holding firm alongside Rhys Barber. Hulbert holed a nerveless three-and-a-half-footer on 18 to secure a vital half and send Gwent into lunch ahead. The return of former County Champion Dafydd Rowberry for the afternoon singles restored parity to the side’s numbers and a sense of quiet confidence to the visiting camp.
Wiltshire came out firing, taking the first two singles in tight, high-quality contests against Pescod and Westley, but Gwent’s middle order soon turned the tide. Coombes overpowered his opponent to win 3&2, and Price, in sublime form, extended his remarkable run to six consecutive points since joining the county fold. Smith added another comfortable win to complete a perfect day’s work.
The closing stretch, though, provided the drama. Hulbert fell narrowly short in his afternoon match, and King came out second best in a hard-fought battle of the captains, leaving the overall score delicately poised.
Then came the heroics. Battling illness, Rhys Barber dug deep to produce a stunning finish, playing the last few holes in red figures to steal a crucial half. Moments later, the ever-reliable Palmer delivered four consecutive birdies to snatch another point just when Gwent needed it most.
That left Dafydd Rowberry — the late call-up — with the match on his shoulders. Three down with seven to play, he staged one of the great Gwent comebacks. A composed par at 17 sealed the overall win, and a birdie at the last provided the perfect punctuation mark for a thrilling afternoon.
This latest victory marked another milestone in a season of clear progress for Gwent. Junior debutant Oli Hulbert gained further valuable experience at this level, while David Price maintained his flawless record — now six wins from six since donning county colours. Once again, key senior players stood tall when it mattered, guiding the side to consecutive wins and securing a first top-half Channel League finish in over a decade. Momentum and belief continue to build as Gwent looks ahead to 2026 with renewed purpose and confidence.
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