STOKE by Nayland booked their place in the last four of the Essex Golf Union Norman Plum Trophy with a 4-2 win over Boyce Hill.

At Boyce Hill, Stoke captain John Sandford paired up Tim Dickens and Dean Brace and they won on the 18th.

Ian Benson and Trevor Warren faced very strong opposition and were beaten 3&2.

The final pairing of Paul Nuttall and Keith Hodgson came through with a very important half.

At home, the in-form pairing of Dan Brown and Dan Goddard won again, as did second out Gary Thompson and Chris Williamson.

Karl Cansdale and Kyle Worster faced a Boyce Hill pair who birdied the first three holes but they held on to earn a half.

The reward for Stoke by Nayland is a semi-final against Abridge on August 16, the second semi-final will be contested by Chigwell and The Essex.

Team: At Boyce Hill: Tim Dickens and Dean Brace won 1 up; Ian Benson and Trevor Warren lost 3&2; Paul Nuttall and Keith Hodgson halved. At Stoke by Nayland: Dan Brown and Dan Goddard won 2&1; Gary Thompson and Chris Williamson won 1 up; Karl Cansdale and Kyle Worster halved. Stoke by Nayland 4 Boyce Hill 2.

Results: July Monthly Medal (Constable): Division one: 1 Roger Toone 79-11=68, 2 Iain Younger 71-2=69, 3 Alex Royce 74-5=69. Division two: 1 Neil Farmer 86-18=68, 2 Peter Jay 88-15=73, 3 Tim Kingsley 88-15=73. Division three: 1 David Boyden 92-26=66, 2 Chris Williamson 90-22=68, 3 Bob Queminet 97-21=76.

Veterans’ July Stableford ( Club Captain’s Prize): Division one: 1 Graham Vandervord 43 pts, 2 Norman Davidson 41 pts, 3 George Crane 41 pts. Division two: Rod Harman 48 pts, 2 Steve Ling 38 pts, 3 John Button 37 pts.

Rod Harman was presented with a decanter and glasses by club captain Julian Lamb.

Stoke by Nayland’s run in the Mail on Sunday National Golf Club Classic ended dramatically on the third extra hole as they were taken to a play-off by Thorpe Hall in round seven, the last 32 in the country.

This is the furthest that the Stoke men’s team has ever reached in the competition.

In difficult wet and windy conditions, Ian Collett teed off first and won 1 up. Ian Smith halved his match but a win by Thorpe Hall in the third match, with defeat for Richard Bland, levelled the scores.

When Tim Dickens los it was up to Trevor Warren to win his match to take it to a play-off.

He did with a 2 up victory which left the scores tied at 2½-2½.

In this competition, in the event of a tie, it is the fifth named player in each team who has to contest the play-off.

So Warren and his opponent returned to the first tee, holes one and two were halved but the par four third hole turned out to be the decider when the Thorpe Hall player scored an impressive par which Stoke by Nayland were unable to match.

Sybil Paton won Stoke-by-Nayland Ladies’s 36-hole club championship competion.

Stoke by Nayland ladies’ bronze team have sealed their place in the final.

They beat Stockbrook Manor, at The Burstead, near Billericay, 4½-2½ in the semi-final and now play Forrester Park at Thorpe Hall, near Southend on Sea, on August 7.