Beverley's famous grass cutters were finally out on the Westwood as East Riding Juniors welcomed Bradford Union for the 4th match of their YIDU League season. Unfortunately, given the wet Spring, our bovine buddies have not had much time to get the rough down and Beverley was playing as tough as it could.
Numerous lost balls, provisionals and some horrific lies in the knee high gunk belied a wonderful Westwood layout with immaculate fairways and, as always, fast and true greens. Club selection off the tee was always going to be crucial as Team Manager Sunil Mukerjea encouraged his young steeds to sacrifice a bit of length and 'just find the short stuff'.
The first match of the day didn't go to plan when team captain Luke Thornton and Callum Burns were taken down by the highly rated Bradford duo of Harry Phillips and Huey Cunningham. Callum's tee shot at the 190 yard 8th to an inch was one of the few highlights for East Riding as they succumbed 4&3.
Match two was a tighter affair, but Bradford doubled their advantage with 1up victory over Luke Townhill and Seth Topham. East Riding were soon on the board with a come from behind 3&1 victory for Cottingham duo George Coope and Warren Burns.
The new pairing of Bobby Beasley and Hornsea's Alfred Anderson, making his fiirst appearance of the campaign, succumbed on the 17th green, and suddenly Sunil was praying for some better news from the tail.
Thankfully lunch tasted slightly better after Huxley Sawyer and Beverley's Seth Fairburn (on debut) dominated throughout to win 5&3. In the anchor match, Harry Mukerjea and Tom Adcock [pictured below] were always in charge, but were made to work hard before finally closing out the match with a tap in birdie at the 17th.
6-6 at lunch and East Riding's title challenge was in the balance at the exact halfway point of the YIDU season.
As always, a fast start was required and Luke Thornton was in no mood to come away winless on the day. Despite trailing fellow Yorkshire u18s team mate Benjy Saia at the turn, Luke battled back to win 3&1. Warren Burns soon followed with a 4&3 victory and things were looking promising.
News of the middle order was not so good with as many as five matches going the way of Bradford. Once again the tail was wagging and all on the Westwood under glorious sunshine prepared themselves for a tense afternoon.
George Coope and Luke Townhill both lost on the 18th and 17th respectively, as did Callum Burns playing at number 6. Bobby Beasley had been two down early on, but battled back to take it to the par 3 18th. A 'pure' mid iron (his adjective, not mine!) to the heart of the green was enough to win his match and, in effect, level the tie at 12-12. Six more matches left out there!
Alfred Anderson's gutsy half took the teams to 13-13, before the home points started to roll in.
Firstly Seth Topham's policy of fairways and greens paid dividend with a 4&3 win, before Seth Fairburn made it a debut to remember with a consumate 6&5 demolition of Jake Bairstow.
One more win required to take East Riding to the magic 19 points.
Cave Castle's dynamic duo of Tom Adcock and Huxley Sawyer seemed in a hurry to seal the winning point, but Tom managed it on the 13th green five minutes before Huxley matched his winning margin of 6&5.
All attention then turned to Harry Mukerjea who was in control all afternoon and calmly hit his third at the 15th to 12 feet to seal his 100% day with a 5&3 win.
So, 23-13 in the end, but a real thriller for the the large number of parents and officials from both sides to enjoy. Even the cows semmed quite impressed.
The win takes East Riding to the top of the YIDU standings at least until the end of June when Sheffield will make up their two games in hand.
See fixtures, results and updated league table here
Callum's blank and Tom Adcock's two wins on the day has them swap places at the top of the Player of the Year standings. Warren Burns moves up to third.
Thanks once again to ERUGC starter Andy Pittaway and to all of the staff at Beverley & East Riding Golf Club for looking after everyone both on and off the course. The new ERUGC trophy cabinet was looking fantastic in the ceremonial home of Union golf - thanks to last year's President Mike Dawson for everything he did to make it happen.
The next fixture for the boys is not until 21 July when East Riding entertain Halifax and Huddersfield Union at Skidby Lakes.
Jonathan Clark
ERUGC Junior League Secretary
