Winning the YIDU league title is a tough ask in any season, but adding the Team Championship and completing the double is a rare feat indeed.
Hopes were high of the double as Andy Lockwood's super six arrived at Wakefield Golf Club still on a high from their league title win at Harrogate one week ago.
The muggy morning play promised much, with half of the team breaking the course par of 72. Steve Uzzell shot an excellent 70 despite not having had a practice round having hot-footed his way from The Oaks where he helped Yorkshire capture the Northern Counties league on Saturday. Aaron Brettell went one better with a sparkling 69 before Jonnie Fisher carded a best of the day 67 which amazingly included a double bogey!
With only the best five scores required from six, East Riding added a solid one over 73 from Jack Northgraves and a 76 from either Ryan Gray or Jacob Hodgson (the other was discarded). That left their lunchtime aggregate at 355 (-5) just four shots adrift of a strong looking Leeds Union. There was then clear daylight to York who were nine back in third and Halifax & Huddersfield a further shot adrift.
The afternoon groups got underway from the two tee start and East Riding birdies seemed to dry up with most of the side treading water at par or one or two over. It also soon became clear that Leeds were in a similar position with only George Heath pushing on from his morning 69.
A late charge was required, but sadly bogies and the odd double over the closing holes cost the Union the chance of victory, with only Uzzell the right side of par with his 71. Brettell added a 73, Gray improved on his morning round with a 74 and Northgraves holed nothing in his 75. Jonnie could not repeat his morning birdie blitz and slipped to a 75, whilst Jacob Hodgson fell away at the end of a tiring day over the undulating terrain with a 78.
Leeds carded a couple of level par 72s to back up Heath's 70, before a 73 and 75 sealed the deal for Leeds to take their first six man crown since 2006. They finished ten shots clear of East Riding who were caught on 723 by Halifax & Huddersfield who took the runners-up Larard Trophy on countback.
So, East Riding's search for a second 'six man' victory goes on, with their solitary success being at Knaresborough in 2018. Maybe 2024 will be the year, when the Team Championship celebrates its golden jubilee.
Despite missing out on the day's honours, Team Captain Andy Lockwood was presented with the YIDU league trophy during the prizegiving and thanked the squad for a great season and all those unsung heroes who make all the arrangements and provide support at all matches and events.
Jonathan Clark
ERUGC Junior League Secretary
| Union / Player | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Total |
| Leeds | 351 | 362 | 713 |
| Halifax & Huddersfield | 365 | 358 | 723 |
| East Riding | 355 | 368 | 723 |
| Steve Uzzell | 70 | 71 | 141 |
| Aaron Brettell | 69 | 73 | 142 |
| Ryan Gray | 76 | 74 | 150 |
| Jonnie Fisher | 67 | 75 | 142 |
| Jack Northgraves | 73 | 75 | 148 |
| Jacob Hodgson | 76 | 78 | 154 |
| Teesside | 377 | 362 | 739 |
| York | 364 | 377 | 741 |
| Harrogate | 379 | 378 | 757 |
| Sheffield | 385 | 372 | 757 |
| Bradford | 387 | 385 | 772 |
