The penultimate match of the 2024 season saw the East Riding Juniors travel to the beautiful Ilkley Golf Club to play the very impressive Harrogate Union in a match that would go along way to deciding the make up of the top three in this year’s YIDU league.
Harrogate have been super impressive this season with some very strong performances in the league. So the East Riding knew they had to be on top form to give them a good match. And so that proved!
There were a few changes to the East Riding lineup for this fixture with the Ganton trio of Ben Staveley, George Walker and Alfie Dacey all returning to the starting lineup. On paper, this was always going to be a really close match involving two very evenly matched teams. The handicap profiles for both sides suggested it was going to go for the full duration with a very tight result.
After an extremely wet journey to North Yorkshire, both sides arrived to a damp Ilkley with the potential for thunderstorms at some point. Thankfully that threat never materialised. By the time the first match teed off, the sun was out and it was positively tropical with a very humid feel.
The initial exchanges were quite cagey really, with a steady flow of holes back and forth between the two sides. Initially it looked very positive for the East Riding as they were up in five of the six matches through 8 holes. In the top match, Ewan Mackenzie and Luke Townhill were finding life a little challenging as their opponents took an early lead and never really let the East Riding duo back into the match, eventually succumbing 5&3. However Harrogate were making a spirited come back in the other matches. After being 2up with 5 to play in match 2, Luke Thornton and Callum Burns hung on for a halve point in their match.
Match 3 went the way of the East Riding courtesy of a good 3&1 win for Warren Burns and George Coope. Match 4 saw Seth Topham and Bobby Beasley lose 2&1. Things were starting to look a little uncomfortable for the Union and this was only heightened when the Ganton pairing of George Walker and Alfie Dacey lost on the 18th. So all eyes fell on the last match with Harry Mukerjea and Ben Staveley playing the 18th at 1up. This was a crucial match if the Union wanted any kind of foot hold in the match. A good drive and a positive second shot meant an easy par was made and a 1up victory recorded for the visitors.
So at half time the East Riding were 7-5 down. Over lunch, the general spirit remained good within the team and so a real concerted effort was required in the afternoon singles matches to turn the deficit around.
With sun beating down on the players and the beautifully presented Ilkley course, both teams set about the afternoon singles match knowing that defeat for either side would end their hopes of a tilt at this season’s title. Initial feedback from the course was showing that the early exchanges were very much going the way off the home side with Harrogate showing leads in most of the top six matches. “Houston we have a problem!”
However, slowly but surely the the tide began to turn in the East Riding’s favour. After being 2dn with 5 to play, Ewan Mackenzie battled hard to finish all square in his match. That was the same result for Luke Thornton also. Then a couple of good wins for Warren Burns (who now tops the 2024 Player of the Year standings) and Seth Topham 1up and 2&1 respectively were followed by two quick defeats for Callum Burns and in his final appearance for the Union, Luke Townhill.
George Walker was having a good run also and took an early lead eventually holding on to finish all square on the last also. So with the first 7 matches completed, the match score was back level. It was abundantly clear from an early stage that the afternoon singles matches were going to be a very close affair and the later starters were advised that the result of the match would come down to their results for both sides.
Ben Staveley produced a very calm closing five holes to win his match on the last 1up. Following a chip and putt the late great Seve would have been proud of at the tricky 13th, George Coope took control of his match to eventually win 2&1. He moves to second in the POTY standings. Bobby Beasley battled hard all afternoon but eventually lost 2dn, so all eyes on the last two matches, Harry Mukerjea and Alfie Dacey. Both were in charge of their respective games but playing two very good young opponents with bright futures in our game. Nothing was certain until Harry went 4up with 4 to play - eventually winning 3&2.
So the icing on the cake fell to Alfie Dacey, who was desperate to contribute to the team score. Well done Alfie for staying composed and finishing the job of on the 17th with a wonderful par 4 from the trees to secure the victory for the team. The overall match result was a very hard fought win, 20-16 to East Riding.
An enormous thank you to all the volunteers and parents who help make these events happen. Especially to Kim and Bernie Burns, Steve Coope and Dave Topham for being my eyes and ears on the course. Thank you to the Harrogate Union for your kind hospitality and to all the staff at Ilkley GC for being wonderful hosts. What a fabulous facility you have. It was greatly appreciated.
As already stated, we bid farewell to Luke Townhill who starts a new chapter in his life across the pond in America. Luke was last year’s Boys Team Captain and has been a great ambassador for both the Boys Team and the Union as a whole. We wish you the very best of luck and thank you for your efforts. It has been greatly appreciated. So to our last match of the Season, a home game against the Leeds Union at the lovely Hornsea GC on Monday 12th August. We shall see you all then. East Riding are tied at the top of the table with Sheffield with just one match to play. A superior hole diference has East Riding ahead, but calculators may be needed at Hornsea should both teams win their final fixtures.
Sunil Mukerjea
Junior Team Manager
