ERUGC 19 – 17 York Union
Sunday 17th May, 2026
Hull Golf Club
The new YIDU season kicked off against York Union at Hull Golf Club in blustery conditions with overnight rain softening up the greens which were still scary quick in places.
Captain Rees Brown made quite a few changes from the last fixture which was ironically an away loss to York to scupper the chance of winning the title in 2025.
They say that revenge is a dish best served cold, which it certainly was when the sun hid behind the clouds during the morning foursomes. All seemed to be going according to plan as Rees put some new pairings together who were out of the blocks quickly.
The top pair of Aaron Brettell, now playing out of Hull, and Hornsea’s US based Jack Maxey stayed ahead all morning and looked set to put the first win on the board having arrived safely on the back of the last green in two at 1up. However, a miracle up and down from their York opponents from near the flagpole beyond the green, coupled with a baffling three whack (below) from the home pair left the points shared.
Match 2 was more straightforward, with another home player Charlie Milner and Scarborough North Cliff’s Tom Duck combining long bombs with some deft touches around the greens to run out 6&5 winners.
Hull youngsters George Clark and Jacob Hodgson looked to have their match under control at 2up through 15, but a sloppy finish gifted the first win for the visitors on the home green.
Another last hole victory for York took match 4 against the Hornsea duo of Leigh Gawley and Tom Broadley. The away team then took the last two foursomes by the same score of 3&2 to take a commanding 9-3 lead at lunch.
So, déjà vu all over again from recent years as East Riding had to turn things around after a poor foursomes showing.
Rees Brown insisted that the mission was by no means impossible, but a fast start in the singles to wipe out the six point deficit quickly was critical. Maxey, Brettell and Milner duly delivered their points to take the match score to 9 – 9. Duck lost on the last before Hodgson levelled things up again at 11 a piece with victory at the 16th.
A strong showing from the middle order then put East Riding in pole position. First, 2025 Player of the Year Leigh Gawley delivered his customary singles point and clubmate Tom Broadley gained a valuable half to take the home team to 14-12. Then George Clark ran out a confident 4&3 winner against away captain Chris Hornby and Paul Wray always had his man at arm’s length to win 3&2.
So, 18-12 and just a half required to get home from the remaining three matches.
First, Steve Dale of Hornsea succumbed on the 17th green, as did Hornsea’s 5th representative Jack Clark which left all eyes on Burstwick’s Lewis Hunt who looked like the man for the mission, cruising at 2up through 14 in the anchor match.
However, a pull into the small pond left of the 15th green cut his lead to one, which then evaporated completely (the lead, not the pond) as his opponent fired a superb mid iron to 10 feet at the last short hole with the whole world now watching behind the green (below).
Up the 17th went the players and the large gallery. Both players found trees off the tee with Hunt’s second unlucky to run through the green. A nerveless York up and down however took them to the brink of a memorable draw.
Both players smoked drives down the last, with Lewis firing first and finding the green in two. The pressure told on his opponent who missed the green right and then left to leave Lewis to calmly two putt from 20 feet (below) to complete an East Riding victory by the narrowest of margins.
Thanks to starter Andy Pittaway for getting everyone off on schedule and to new ERUGC Secretary Tom Elder for his marshalling duties on the first. Howard Palmer had everything in order as usual and ERUGC President Alan Hutchinson enjoyed the first of the projected 14 matches of his year in office.
Dave Norton and his team presented the Kirk Ella course in excellent condition despite the recent dry spell. The staff in the clubhouse were on point as always and the kitchen and bar staff kept players and supporters well fed and watered all day.
One of the longest trips possible up next, as East Riding travel to Hartlepool to take on Teesside on Sunday 14th June.
Not perfect by any means today – but a win, as they say, is a win!
[This report will self destruct in five seconds]
Jonathan Clark
ERUGC Press Secretary
