THE new amalgamated Bolton and Bury Golf Associations junior team scored an instant success when they beat Fylde 10½-7½ at Knott End.

The two associations linked up earlier this year with the intention of producing more talent of lower handicap potential as well as offering the Bury juniors the chance to play in the Lancashire Inter- Regional Scratch League for the first time – an opportunity previously denied them because they were unable to field 12-man teams.

Only one Bury Association player, Hannan Mahmood, made the combined team on this occasion but he made a significant contribution on a day when the Bolton players tasted vistory over the Seasiders for the first time in several year.

He helped himself to an excellent 9&8 morning foursomes win with partner Ian Stirling (Harwood), and followed up with a 3&2 singles victory in the afternoon.

Bolton and Bury went into the afternoon singles leading 5-1 and, when Lancashire county player Stirling also won his singles match against Sam Crowther of St Anne’s Old Links, a significant victory looked certain.

Fylde, however, won six of their 12 singles to reduce the deficit to just one point. The local juniors would not be denied though and wins from Sam Barry and Ashley Williams (Great Lever) and Josh Ashton (Horwich) earned them a deserved victory.

Bolton and Bury’s next match is against North Lancashire Association at Dunscar this week, where a win could put them into the final.