STOKE by Nayland Golf Club enjoyed an impressive win over holders The Essex in the Curry Cup.

They won 12-6 in the latest game in the competition, contested by teams from Essex and Suffolk.

Stoke had already won 11-7 at Colchester in their first match, away from home.

They beat The Essex team that has won the competition in each of the last two years and now lead the league with matches against Colne Valley and Five Lakes to come.

The cup is run on a league basis, with two matches at home and two away.

Each team consists of 12 players, six from Category One and six from Category Two.

The three league winners and the best runner-up progress to the semi-finals.

Stoke by Nayland team: Richard Cross, Matt Eaves, Chris Guy, Paul Champ (Captain), Roland Beason, Del Pritchard, Nick Lee, Karl Cansdale, Don Wiggens, Tim Dickens, Ian Smith, Dean Brace.

There was also success for Stoke by Nayland's Norman Plum Trophy team after they reached the quarter-finals of the competition.

The defending champions beat Thorndon Park 4-2 on points in their third-round match, which saw them contest three matches at home and three away.

Stoke fell behind with a 2-1 defeat for the home team, with Roger Gardener and Alan White winning 2&1 to secure their all-important point.

But Stoke's away team came up trumps with all three pairs winning their matches, in an impressive display.

Stoke by Nayland home team: Roger Gardener and Alan White, Byron Long and David Boydon, John Sandford and Eric Fisher.

Away team: Gary Thompson and Dan Goddard, Ian Benson and Trevor Brace, Dean Brace and Shaun Underwood.

It was the turn of Stoke by Nayland's gentlemen to invite the ladies to be their guests and to play in a Greensomes match.

Alan Hands and his guest Gwen Broadhead won with a magnificent score of 47 points.

Club captain Ian Thompson and lady captain Betty Cox with 43 points were runners-up, ahead of Bob Cox and Sue Latham on countback.

Stoke by Nayland GC results, Jackson Easter Cup (Juniors): 1st Finley McCartney 36 points, 2nd James Mack 36 points,

3rd Max Toombs 35 points.

Veterans’ Cup: 1st Barry Hitchcock 40 points, 2nd Jeff Waterson 39 points, 3rd Ron Kirton 36 points.

Seniors’ Monthly Stableford division one: 1st Graham Vandervord 40 points, 2nd Roger Davies 38 points, 3rd Tony Carman 38 points.

Division two: 1st Steven Tree 41 points, 2nd Richard Middleton 38 points, 3rd Ray Harris 33 points.