FRINTON Golf Club have reached the final of the Thornton Cup Plate for the first time in their long history.

The format is for teams to play five matches of singles matchplay at home and away simultaneously.

Frinton had drawn The Burstead Golf Club in the semi-final.

Burstead had won their two previous home legs 5-0 and, on their tricky, hard and bouncy fairways, were a difficult nut to crack.

Weather conditions were absolutely perfect, with warm, sunny weather and very little wind.

Indeed, the lack of wind at Frinton proved to be a leveller, almost as much as the poor putting surfaces that prevailed due to planned maintenance work. The heavily-sanded greens were very slow and bumpy.

First blood went to Burstead with young Harry Merchant comfortably defeating the out-of-sorts James Hide.

James Taggart then levelled for Frinton, beating Richard Honeyman 6&5.

Tig Tanner won 5+3 against Noah Andrews while Terry Paine was two-under-par against Rob Trotman as Burstead drew level at 2-2.

The experienced Simon O’Brien restored Frinton’s advantage, winning 5+4 at Burstead and making it 3-2 to Frinton.

However, in a close encounter, Hamish Stubbs was defeated on the last hole by Burstead’s Ian Nicholson – 3-3.

Frinton’s budding golf professional Joe Bushell was left kicking his heels in the pro shop at Frinton.

However, his replacement, Freddie Brett, turned on the power in the final holes to defeat George Tunbridge 3+1.

Young Reece Balls narrowly defeated Burstead’s Tom Sillitoe after going three ahead - only to be pulled back to one-down.

Balls then birdied the final two holes to win one-up.

Play was now complete at Frinton and players and spectators nervously awaited the outcome of the final two matches at Burstead.

Kevin Smith had no answer to Will Fosher’s four chip-ins and lost 4+3.

However, the final action in this tight encounter was decided by Frinton’s Mitchell McAuley, who fought back splendidly from three-down, with two laser-like shots into the last two holes to win one-up.