ERUGC 12 – 24 Sheffield Union
Sunday 16th August, 2026
Driffield Golf Club
Despite the absence of some really big names in their line-up (one of theirs happened to be winning the US Amateur title), Sheffield still brought a strong team to Driffield for the penultimate YIDU clash of the season.
Despite the appearance of being a ‘dead rubber’ given both teams’ poor season so far, there was no quarter asked or given in a match which has been tight over recent years.
Again, Captain Rees Brown had to juggle most of his his pairs for the morning foursomes,
Up front, Jacob Hodgson and Aaron Brettell led early on, but were reeled in to lose on the 16th. In match two, it was almost a mathematical certainty that two Toms would pair up. Benson and Sanghera did so, but went down 3&1 to a strong Sheffield pair.
Match 3 found a winning formula in Tom Duck and Paul Wray who overcame some trouble at the par 5 11th (below) to run out impressive 4&3 winners.
Match four drew a blank as the away pairing made back to back twos to seize control over Tom Brown and George Coope, but East Riding’s second win came from Steve Dale and Lewis Hunt (pictured below at the 15th) who made a clutch birdie at 17 and hung on down the last to win 1up.
Last out, but first in were the Hull pairing of Will Storr and George Clark, unbeaten in their last two matches, but failed to spark in the anchor match.
So 8-4 at lunch to Sheffield and much work to do.
Jacob Hodgson got the singles off to a great start with an outstanding display to win 5&4, but when Aaron Brettell lost on the last and Tom Sanghera lost his imperious recent form on the greens, the die was cast. Sheffield dominated the remainder of the top half with Wray, Benson and Duck going down in tight matches.
Ganton’s Tom Brown came up with a deserved win at number 7, quickly followed by Steve Dale who completed a 100% return for the day when he beat Chris Hall 2up.
George Coope and then Lewis Hunt never quite got going in the afternoon, but Will Storr’s monster hitting had him run out a comfortable 6&4 victor to get the last East Riding points of the day in a 24-12 defeat.
In the bottom match, George Clark (pictured above on the 16th green) found some form and had chances to put himself into an unassailable lead in the Player of the Year standings. Sadly 15 footers at the last three holes slid agonisingly by to be edged out by one hole. Leigh Gawley and Paul Wray are still in touch, three and four points behind respectively with one match to go.
Thanks as always to starter Andy Pittaway who kept order on the busy first tee (below) and to Team Support Howard Palmer. ER President Alan Hutchinson, Secretary Tom Elder and his predecessor John Illingworth patrolled the surprisingly green fairways supporting the team. The Storrs and the Coopes supported their talented sons, whilst Edward and Eileen Clark attended their second ER fixture in 72 hours.
The staff at Driffield looked after everyone royally during the long day and the course was a credit to the hard working greens staff.
The regular league season ends with a trip to Howley Hall to play Leeds Union on Sunday 6th September.
Jonathan Clark
ERUGC Press Secretary
