Worthing limbered up for the defence of the Davies and Tate Trophy with a 5,-2, defeat of an EGU South-East (South) Region Boys team.

This win came after the foursome finished level.

The inexperienced visitors did well to hold Worthing in the morning. Worthing gave debuts to Rob Bright, who has moved from Bognor, and Andrew Tolman from their own junior squad.

Nic Turrell, who has joined Worthing from Goodwood, did not play but will be available when the Davies and Tate gets underway. The Worthing squad is reinforced following the decision of Nigel Harrington to go from his Tour card.

The Kent-Sussex pairings of Eren Bechet and Paul Jones had every reason to be pleased with beating Joe Doherty and Peter Drew 3 and 2 in the foursomes.

But the experience of Scott Nightingale in the second match weighed heavily and Jack Budgen and Ben Evans (ESN) lost 3 and 2. Nightingale's partner was Rob Brighton and team manager Eric Reekie may keep them together for the matchplay knockout.

Henry Hilton, junior captain at Lewes, and Craig McCollum, who will play for Haywards Heath in the Davies and Tate, combined effectively to beat Arwell Roberts and Kevin Bashford 5 and 4.

When the afternoon format switched to fourballs, the issue went Worthing's way, with Doherty and Nightingale, resuming their top pairing, winning by 2 and 1.

Peter Drew's putter glowed red hot and, with Bashford, they took out Hilton and McCollum 3 and 2. Next, the young pairing of Moseley and Tolman saw off Budgen and Evans.

It was left to the all-Kent duo of James Smith and Matt Holland to bring in half a point against Roberts and Bright, Holland sinking a 10ft putt on the last for the half.