BOB Bardsley's decision to pitch his young guns into battle paid off as Lancashire powered to a seven-point victory over Durham in their opening Northern Counties League encounter at Ormskirk.

And the player who set the match alight was Tommy Fleetwood who, at 15, is the youngest to wear a Red Rose shirt at senior level.

The Formby Hall England Boys' prodigy crushed Greg Johnson six and five, ramming home an eagle and five birdies.

Sam Stuart, 18, another debutant from Chorley, dispatched Craig Walton two and one then completed a dream weekend by winning the Lancashire Boys' title at Ashton-on-Lea.

Rounds of 71 and 69 left him a shot ahead of Heysham's Jack Senior, who bogeyed the last, and Matthew Nixon, from Ashton-under-Lyne.

Denton member Bardsley enthused: "These youngsters were picked on merit and have proved themselves good enough to get into the team."

There was also a fighting performance from old hand Roger Smithies, from Hopwood, who dispatched Neil Harker-Bell two and one after trailing four down at the turn.

Cheshire succumbed 10-8 to Northumberland at Berwick where they failed to wipe out a two point foursomes defeat.

DAVYHULME Park's Alex Stead shot 79 in testing condition's to win the Manchester Junior League fixture at Flixton, Blackley's Danny Speight claiming the nett prize with 60 off his 28 handicap. Tweet