Hull 3 - 0 Hornsea
The two teams who have won the title every year since 2018 squared up at Ganton in a much anticipated final between six of the Union's top juniors.
Hornsea led in all three matches at one point, before Hull found their feet and turned them all around to regain the trophy they last won in 2022.
East Riding u18 teammates Bobby Beasley (Hull) and Seth Topham (Hessle) led the sides off with Bobby managing an unlikely half at the first despite driving into a gorse bush. Bobby was 2up at the turn, before a Seth two at the short 10th halved the deficit. Tree trouble for Bobby at 12 brought the match level before Seth finally got his nose in front with two holes to play. However, Bobby holed from 15 feet at the tough 17th to sqaure the match and then sank another bomb from 20 feet at the last before Seth missed from short distance for the half.
Match 2 couldn't have started better for Hornsea as Hull's George Pepper began nervously and couldn't get the speed of the greens. Alfred Anderson went 3up after three, before a lost ball at the 4th and a Pepper birdie allowed the Hull man to get into the match. Hull were all level after 7 and at the turn, before George broke the deadlock with a win at the 10th after a superb tee shot to 12 feet.
In the bottom match, Hull's Junior Captain Harry Earl made a slow start and was soon down to Alfred's sister Lilly. He started to find the short grass off the tee and found the form which has reduced his WHI from 18.1 in early May to 9.1. He got on top around the turn and never looked back to run out a 5&4 winner.
So Hull had the two wins needed for the title, but Pepper and Anderson were producing a mini classic in the middle match which they played out in front of a growing group of spectators. Alfred found triple trouble at the 16th with visits to the long grass, trees and then a gorse bush to go dormie two down. He won the 17th after his tee shot came up just short of the green and George found the front left bunker. A half in bogey down the last meant that George just held on to bring Hull home 3-0.
Three fantastic matches played in a great spirit showed that junior golf in the East Riding continues to thrive. Some of these youngsters will no doubt find themselves in one of the other two finals in years to come.
Jonathan Clark
ERUGC Junior League Secretary
