East Riding Union 23 -13 Leeds Union
And so to the last YIDU Inter District match for the East Riding Juniors in the 2024 season. Today we play host to the Leeds Union at the beautiful Hornsea Golf Club.
Over the course of the last three years, the team has steadily improved its league position culminating in this year having a chance to actually win the league. The scenario is with this match to play, the Sheffield Union hold a 20 point lead over the East Riding. So essentially if East Riding want to win the league this year, they need to win by a minimum of 21pts. This equates to a score of a minimum 29-7 in our favour. Not an easy challenge on any day let alone against one of the strongest Unions!!
Once again, a few changes were necessitated for this fixture because of availability issues for the East Riding. Returning for today’s match was the dynamic duo from Cave Castle GC Huxley Sawyer and Tom Adcock who is fresh off his second place finish at the East Riding Junior Championship last week and for his last match for the boys team, Alfred Anderson from Hornsea GC complete’s today’s starting lineup.
With an air of nervous anticipation, the matches got under way…….
Leading the team off in the foursomes were Captain Luke Thornton and Callum Burns. Things all looked to be going to plan with Leeds finding the water twice at the feature hole 11th and then failing to make par at the short 12th left East Riding 2up with six to play. A couple of errant tee shots down the stretch from the home pair let Leeds back in and it was perhaps inevitable that the visitors drew first blood in the tie with a birdie from 20 feet at the last.
East Riding were soon back on level terms when Ewan Mackenzie and the newly crowned East Riding Boys champion Seth Topham, playing on his home track, controlled their match throughout and ran out 5&3 winners.
Match 3 was a much tighter affair which swung one way and then the other. Hessle’s Warren Burns and Ganton’s George Coope knew that every point would be vital and found the middle of the 18th with their drive with the match all square. Leeds were bunkered off the tee and a succession of wayward shots led to a handshake after Warren calmly floated his wedge to 20 feet.
In match 4, East Riding went with Cave Castle’s Huxley Sawyer and Hornsea’s very own Alfred Anderson. A stirring fightback from 4 down had Team Manager Sunil Mukerjea thinking that a 10-2 lunchtime lead was still possible, but a Leeds birdie at 15 from 30 feet proved decisive and they went on to close out the match at the next.
Match 5 had looked ominous as Ganton’s Harry Mukerjea and Cave’s Tom Adcock went 3 down through 5 thanks to Leeds birdies at 3, 4 and 5. A gutsy recovery around the turn however, got East Riding noses ahead and they held on to win 2&1.
To ensure that the miracle was still just about possible, Bobby Beasley and Alfie Dacey got off to a fast start and, despite a back nine wobble, brought home the morning’s final point on the 16th green to leave East Riding 8-4 to the good.
21 points needed in the afternoon from a possible 24 to have any chance of clinching the YIDU League title. Possible, but not probable.
Early afternoon exchanges suggested that the ‘Miracle by the Mere’ could just about be done. At one stage East Riding were up in ten matches, level in one, but well down in the anchor match featuring Alfie Dacey.
One of those in the lead was Ewan Mackenzie in the top singles who led going down the 16th. Unfortunately, he was pegged back and went to the last all square where his drive kicked agonisingly out of bounds by a few inches, whilst his opponent was in play by a similar distance. By such fine margins are matches and titles decided.
So, East Riding couldn’t afford another loss and Luke Thornton made no mistake in his clinical 7&6 victory over Ben Waite of Low Laithes. Another win soon followed in match 4, as in form Hornsea member Seth Topham put his local knowledge to good use to win by the same margin.
These early wins spread confidence throughout the team still playing the loop at the far end of the course. Another Hornsea youngster, Alfred Anderson was up at the turn, as was Hull’s Bobby Beasley who was two under gross through 8 holes to lead by three. All other matches were tight as the top order disappeared down the final five holes with a favourable back wind.
However, the news from the home holes wasn’t what was hoped for, as first Warren Burns rued a couple of missed short putts late on to lose 2&1, before brother Callum, winner of the Carnoustie Junior Open last week, succumbed at the last.
Three losses then and East Riding’s brave title challenge was over.
Unaware of the narrow defeats ahead, the middle order then began to turn their leads into wins, as George Coope [pictured below nearest camera] delivered his point with an assured 4&3 victory, before Alfred Anderson won 2up on the final green. In the closely contested Player of the Year standings, George,s maximum points on the day just pipped Warren Burns and Tom Adcock to the coveted salver. Harry Mukerjea had been down at the turn, but battled back manfully to win 2&1. His foursomes partner Tom Adcock also delivered maximum points on the day with his 4&3 victory and shared second place on the POTY standings after a consistent season.
Sadly Bobby’s birdie barrage on the front nine couldn’t continue and he lost the last to a par to snatch a half from the jaws of victory. His point did at least secure the match win over Leeds to guarantee a second successive runners up spot in the league. That left two matches on the course with little but pride to play for. Huxley Sawyer lost on the home hole after having chances to win, but Alfie Dacey, who at one stage thought that it might all come down to him in the bottom match, overcame a four hole hole deficit to win at the 17th. His chip in to win capped one of the performances of the season and typified the fighting spirit and team ethic of this exceptional group of young men.
In the end the full time score was a win for the East Riding 23-13. We won the battle but lost the war !! It wasn’t quite enough to take the title but we finish joint first but lose out on “goal difference”. Congratulations to the Sheffield Union on retaining the title. To our boys, It was a tremendous effort to get that close.
Thank you to everyone who came to watch and support the team not only today but throughout the Season. Thank you to all the volunteers and parents who help make these events happen. Thank you to Hornsea Golf Club for your kind hospitality and to all the staff for being wonderful hosts. It was greatly appreciated.
This year, the East Riding lose seven players because of eligibility, Luke Thornton, Luke Townhill, Warren Burns, George Coope, Harry Mukerjea, Erjan Kuzu and Alfred Anderson. With a combined representation of 127 games for the BoysTeam, these fine young gentlemen have played a really important role in mentoring and bringing on younger players within the group. They have all represented the Union with great distinction with four of them already playing for the Men’s senior team, which is a great achievement considering the wealth of talent available at senior level. The very best of luck going forward chaps and thank you for your support during my time as your team manager over the last three years.
A few thank yous if I may. To all the boys who have played and supported me over the last three years. It’s been a pleasure to get to know you all. To the two past presidents, John Illingworth and Mike Dawson, and the current President Jonty Hall, thank for your support and encouragement. It has been a pleasure to work alongside you. To the members of the East Riding Executive, thank you for your support. It has been greatly appreciated.
To all the parents, guardians and friends who have helped and supported me throughout the last three years, an enormous thank you. It has been a great pleasure to getting to know you all. Also without your help getting people in the right place at the right time, events like these don’t happen. Your eyes and ears on the course are invaluable. Thank you.
So in closing, stay safe, winter well everyone, take care all and thank you. Remember, strengthen your weaknesses without weakening your strengths.
Bring on next season!!
Sunil Mukerjea
Junior Team Manager
