Colne Valley Golf Club ladies played at Braintree in the first round of the Mail on Sunday competition.

Three matches were close and could have gone either way, but it was Braintree who took the honours in a 4½-½ victory.

There were wins for Braintree’s Mary Goodwin, Ann Gisby, Toni Brockwell and Julie Race, while Jan White secured a half.

The Valley ladies’ section also held the first Ladies’ League nine-hole competition and in a very good turnout, the winner was Elizabeth Hicks with 16 points.

She won on countback from Penny Lang, who also had 16 points, with Karen Charles in third with 14 points.