Norfolk first team produced a battling performance before losing out 4-8 to Lincolnshire in a keenly-fought Anglian League encounter at Royal Norwich Golf Club.

The visitors took the morning foursomes 3-1 with Ed Dimambro and Tom Beasley the only Norfolk combination to put a point on the board before lunch.

But in the afternoon singles the hosts showed never-say-die qualities, epitomised by Jonny Spinks in the first game out.

The Swaffham golfer traded birdies with his opponent through the early exchanges and a classic match went all the way down to the final hole.

Spinks trailed 1-down but unleashed a towering drive followed by a precision mid-iron to set up a birdie and clinch a deserved half-point.

Dimambro also gave a rock-solid display, closing out victory on the 17th green.

Josh Chamberlain came away with a half-point from a match that flagged up his fine early-season form.

And George Morris underlined his class with a birdie at the last to secure a 1-up win.

Three of the other four singles ties were close but a strong Lincolnshire side pulled through for an eventual four-point victory margin.

Norfolk joint-manager Carl Green said: “We showed that we are moving in the right direction. There was a lot of good golf from our team – and the spirit throughout was excellent.

“We’ll take plenty of  positives. In particular, Ed Dimambro won both of his matches, which was very pleasing and Jonny Spinks really played well to finish all square in his singles.

“I also want to thank Royal Norwich for their hospitality – and for immaculate presentation of the course.”

Norfolk second team, full of emerging talent, secured a superb 6.5-5.5 success against their counterparts at Boston Golf Club.

Teenager Henry Saddleton was the star of the show as he won both of his matches.

The 15-year-old, who earned his spot with a top-six finish in the previous week’s Norfolk Amateur Championship, teamed up with Callum Rana to secure a 2-up foursomes win. And Saddleton shone in the afternoon singles, surging to a 4&2 singles triumph.

Fellow teenagers Luis King (two points) and Quin Monaghan (successful in his singles clash) also impressed. Matt Strudwick played a steady hand, collecting 1.5 points as Norfolk second team celebrated a brilliant away win.

Norfolk County Golf Union vice-president Chris Lamb said: “A mix of youth and experience, fighting spirit and some great golf gave us a narrow but deserved victory over a classy Lincs team.”

Norfolk’s Under-16s were also on-song at Rookery Park Golf Club where they powered to emphatic wins in their triangular league match against hosts Suffolk and Bedfordshire.

They beat Bedfordshire 7-1 and Suffolk 6.5-1.5 to confirm the depth of emerging talent within the county.

Anglian League result

Norfolk 1st team 4 Lincolnshire 1st 8 (Played at Royal Norwich Golf Club)

Foursomes (Norfolk players named first)

Scott Sealey and Sean Rafferty lost 4&2 to Sam Done and Jack Diment

Josh Chamberlain and Jonny Spinks lost 3&1 to Adam Barnard and Callum Bruce

Simon Clark and George Morris lost 4&2 to Aaron Kay and Scott Frisby

Ed Dimambro and Tom Beasley won 4&2 v Simon Richardson and Matt Haynes

Singles

Spinks A/S v  Done

Sealey lost 6&4 to Barnard

Beasley lost 2-down v Frisby

Rafferty lost 2&1 v Bruce

Dimambro won 2&1 v Diment

Chamberlain A/S v Haynes

Morris won 1-up v Kay

Clark lost 2&1 v Richardson 

Norfolk 2nd team 6.5 Lincolnshire 2nd team 5.5 (Played at Boston Golf Club)

Foursomes (Norfolk players named first)

Darren Abbs and Harry Bradfield lost 2&1 to Dec Goodfellow and Dylan Welford

Callum Rana and Henry Saddleton won 2-up v Dan Smith and Wilf Trestrail

Matthew Strudwick and Luis King won 3&1 v James Hodgson and Josh Payne

Quin Monaghan and Tom Mathers lost 5&4 to Harry Glenn and Leo Burton

Singles

Bradfield won 2&1 v Welford

Abbs lost 6&5 to Goodfellow

Mathers lost 2-down v Payne

Monaghan won 3&2 v Smith

King won 2&1 v Glenn

Saddleton won 4&2 v Trestrail

Strudwick A/S v Burton

Rana lost 2&1 to Hodgson