The opening holes of the morning foursomes showed that East Riding were going to have to be at their best against an excellent side on an unfamiliar course. Dewsbury is very much 'mountain goat' country and the Halifax & Huddersfield side, in the final match of their YIDU campaign, were looking to put pressure on league leaders Sheffield who play their own final match tomorrow. Only a win would keep H&H's slim title hopes alive.
A slow start had most of the ERUGC pairs down early, including the top pair of Luke Thornton and Warren Burns who lost the first three holes and Luke Townhill and Ewan MacKenzie who were six down through seven! Later pairs steadied the ship and were back in touch around the turn.
Despite throwing everything at their opponents, Luke and Warren could never quite get back on level terms and succumbed on the 17th green, but amazingly Townhill and Mackenzie found themselves all square on the 18th tee. Step forward team captain Luke Townhill to hit a laser like wedge to three feet at the par 3 last to secure East Riding's first win of the day.
In match 3 Cottingham's Callum Burns nearly killed yours truly with his drive on the tough 17th, but a ricochet off my left calf gave clubmate and partner George Coope half a chance of threading it onto the green. An unbelievable punch to 15 feet effectively won the match with the birdie putt not even required as their opponents conceded 2&1. Another Cott combo, Alfie Slater and Bobby Beasley lost on the same hole to leave the match in the balance at 4-4.
The new pairing of ice cool Alfred Anderson from Hornsea and Burstwick's Tom Ward surged ahead on the back nine and were the morning's most convincing winners with a 4&3 victory, leaving the Hull / Ganton pair of Harry Mukerjea and Ben Staveley to decide how the match would be balanced at lunchtime.
A succession of clutch Staveley putts over the closing holes kept the East Riding boys ahead, including a nerveless four footer [pictured] at the uphill par 3 18th to seal the deal as partner Harry Mukerjea could barely watch!
A brilliant morning's work then for the team and contrasting responses from those in charge. H&H Manager Frank Greaves got his group together for a 'stern word', whilst a beaming ER Manager Sunil Mukerjea knew that the job wasn't even half done and reminded his troops to stay focussed and concentrate on their own match.
Luke Thornton of Hessle led off the visitors on the tough Dewsbury track where he won the Yorkshire under 14s in 2020. After the morning foursomes defeat, he was determined to bring home his point which he duly did in a dominant display 4&2. Ewan MacKenzie kept up the momentum and came from behind to win on the last green in a thriller - the upset was most definitely on.
The Burns brothers, Warren and Callum, couldn't add to the team total, both succumbing 3&2, so the lead was back to four points - exactly where they were at lunch. 'Cool Hand' Luke Townhill settled a few nerves by closing out his match 3&1, before Ben Staveley, after his crucial foursomes win, completed a memorable day for him personally, by winning his singles 7&5 - the biggest margin of the day. When Bobby Beasley halved his match, East Riding's team total had reached 17 points and just one more win was needed for a famous team victory. But where would it come from?
Happily it didn't take long as Alfred Anderson got the half he needed at the last to hang on to the slimmest of victories to get East Riding over the line and save the fingernails of manager, parents and ERUGC President Mike Dawson who all offered exceptional support throughout the day.
Harry Mukerjea appeared through the trees having won 5&4 in the anchor match, despite having been two down early to deliver East Riding's last win of the day, as Alfie Slater finally lost for the first time in his union career and George Coope came up against an inspired opponent who belied his 10 handicap. Tom Ward was unlucky to lose on the last after a titanic battle.
So a fantastic 21-15 victory which cements East Riding's third place in the YIDU standings with two fixtures remaining. See the full standings here.
Ewan MacKenzie's maximum six point haul sees him join Cottingham teammate George Coope at the top of the Player of the Year standings. Luke Townhill's max gets him within two. Alfie Slater slips to fourth.
Next up is another tough test away at Leeds on Friday 18th August at Normanton.
Jonathan Clark
ERUGC Junior League Secretary
