ENGLAND ace Rachael Goodall won a titanic battle against Cheryl Gillings to reach the final of the JJB Women’s Championship on a day when Swinton Park became a giant water hazard.

The one handicapper had to call on all her skill and experience to overcome her 57-year-old Davyhulme Park opponent in atrocious conditions.

Retired bank manager Cheryl went into the red of the first hole when she drove out of bounds.

But she pitched and putted her way back into the game to reach the turn level, then stunned the Cheshire Women’s and Northern Girls’ champion by moving ahead at the 10th.

 The 15 handicapper, who made the most of the 14 shots she received, stroked the ball with the confidence of a single figure player and looked on course to produce a shock result.

 But the fairways and greens became virtually unplayable and despite the sterling work of the ground staff, her hopes were literally sunk on the 14th when her tee-shot became lost in the semi-rough.

 “It was obviously plugged because we could not find it. That was the turning point because I lost another ball at the next hole for Rachael to level the match,” said Cheryl.

 The 17-year-old Heswall player, one down after 13, was two up for the first time three holes later and a half in par at the next settled the issue.

 “The conditions were a bit of a leveller. I drove the ball well but it was difficult to make a clean contact on the fairways because they were soaked,” said Rachael, who has been selected for the England Girls v Boys match at Woodhall Spa later this month.

 Brookdale 20-handicapper Victoria Akin earned the right to play her in next Friday’s final at Marriott Worsley Park after battling back from three down after eight holes against 10-ranked Jill Hopwood, from West Derby.

 The 43-year-old former Shawe netball player, who only took up golf three years ago, squared the match at the 12th then won three of the next five holes. Tweet