BOLTON Golf Association failed to upset the odds when their representative team fell to an 8-4 defeat against a Lancashire select side in a pre-season friendly at Dunscar Golf Club.

But the local side put up a worthy display in the bi-annual fixture, which was played in blustery conditions last Sunday.

Ian Stirling and his elder brother Anthony, both of Harwood, put in a superb performance to beat reigning Lancashire champion Mark Young and partner Michael Hunt by a single hole. Yet three narrow defeats left Bolton 3-1 down at the conclusion of the morning foursomes.

That lead was extended to 5-1 when Young beat Anthony Stirling 3&2 and Hunt overcame Steve Bryan, of Old Links, 7&5 in the first two singles matches. But Ian Stirling ensured the BGA made a contest of the friendly after claiming another single hole victory, this time over 2010 and 2012 Lancashire champion John Carroll. Adam Whalley, Dunscar’s club captain, continued the fightback with four birdies in his 4&2 victory against Adam Stone.

But Lancashire rattled off the next three points before Rob Taylor, of Bolton Golf Club, earned a deserved consolation with another one-hole victory over England prodigy Paul Kinnear in the final match.