A great win at Thirsk & Northallerton to close the season
The final match of the East Riding’s YIDU season saw the team take on the Harrogate Union at Thirsk and North Allerton GC. After a strong showing at the 6 man inter district event the week before, everyone knew the Harrogate Union were going to prove a very difficult challenge in what has been a transitional season the team.
On a bright and breezy morning in North Yorkshire, the Union were lead off by the strong pairing of Luke Thornton and Warren Burns. They promptly raced round the links to a very impressive 7&6 victory with some quite exceptional golf played by both boys, to be 6 under par after the first 6 holes setting up their victory! Did this auger well? Not quite, as the Union went down heavily in the next 3 matches 2&1, 5&4 and 4&3 respectively. Match 6 also finished early 3&2. So it was left to Match 5 to give the Union some chance of respectability. Harry Mukerjea(Hull) and Ben Staveley( Ganton) produced a very composed performance to win their match 3&1. So half time arrived with the Union 8-4 down.
As the afternoon singles started it was unclear how the match would play out. What did happen, not even the most optimistic foresaw! The opening matches were over in the blink of eye with excellent wins for Luke Thornton 4&3 and Luke Townhill 5&4. Optimism grew very quickly! The next 3 matches all went the way of the home side which put the Union back in trouble. However from the next 7 matches, the boys produced 6 very impressive wins! Warren Burns enjoyed his afternoon’s walk as much as the morning by producing a very good 5&4 victory. A very good day for the young man!
There were also very good wins for George Coope, Harry Mukerjea and Alfie Slater who won their matches 1up, 2&1 and 3&2 respectively. Well done chaps. However the performance of the day and probably the season, has to be from young Callum Burns. He was 5 down with 6 holes to play and promptly plays the last 6 holes in 2under par to turn a loss into a stunning 1up win on the last. Really well done Callum, a great effort. Also with the match now going to the last game on the course, Ben Staveley produced some very composed golf to win on the 17th hole, 2&1 for the Union with everyone from both sides watching. That gave the East Riding a victory of 20-16. A stunning effort boys really well done. It was great to see the boys from both sides out supporting their teammates once their matches had finished.
As always, well done to everyone involved. Thank you to all the volunteers and parents who help make these events happen. Thank you for your hospitality and for being wonderful hosts Thirsk and North Allerton Golf Club. It was greatly appreciated.
So as this is my last match report of this season, a few thank you’s if I may. To our President John, thank you for your help and guidance through the year and acting as a very able Vice Captain! Mr Steve Thornton, thank you for all your support and keeping us all well supplied throughout the year.
To the President elect Mike Dawson, thank you for your support this year. As a team, we wish you well and hope you have a good year as President and I look forward to working with you next year. To Mr and Mrs Clark for your support and help throughout the year, my sincere thanks. To all the family and friends who travelled to our matches, thank you. Without your support in getting the boys to events and acting as additional eyes and ears it would make life very difficult. Thank you. To the clubs we have visited, thank you for your hospitality. We greatly appreciate it.
Thank you to Tommy Risker, Harry Wescott and Jack Eastman who leave us now. Thank you for playing for the Union and good luck with your golf forward. Finally to the team. Thank you chaps. Really enjoyed watching you all grow as people and develop into fine young men. Not bad golfers either!!!
So in closing, stay safe, winter well everyone and take care all and thank you. Strengthen you weakness without weakening your strengths. Bring on next season!!
Sunil Mukerjea
Junior Team Manager
9th September 2022
