Teesside Union 19 - 17 East Riding Union
The task was clear as the Men's Team set out on their longest journey of the season to Teesside - win by any score and hope that Halifax & Huddersfield drop points in their tough final match away at Leeds. What unfolded at Teesside and 70 miles away in Pontefract could not have been scripted.
Things did not start well for the East Riding with some tried and trusted pairings up against it early and some new pairings struggling against some inspired home golf.
First out were Steve Uzzell and Matty Raybould who lost 3&2, followed by a reverse for Aaron Brettell and Jonnie Fisher by 4&2. Captain Andy Lockwood paired himself with Luke Thornton, but the Hessle duo went down 3&2. 6-0 down and East Riding were now just hoping for a foothold in the tie to take into lunch.The two Toms, Duck and Brown, couldn't find a win and succumbed on the 16th green. Warren Burns and Phil Wright drew a blank as did Leigh Gawley and Paul Harper to leave East Riding 12-0 down at lunch - the Union's first morning blank in anyone's memory.
Meanhile in Pontefract, Halifax & Huddersfield were 11-1 ahead against Leeds and the YIDU League title was surely heading to Frank Greaves and his talented team. Or was it?
Nine wins and a half in the 12 singles matches was needed by East Riding to have any hope and the top order delivered as they so often have over recent years. Steve Uzzell was first in the showers as usual after his final hole victory which maintained his 100% win record in singles for the season and deservedly secured him the Player of the Year award.
Final Player of the Year standings
Aaron Brettell was 2 down with 3 to play, but gutsy birdies at 16 and 18 (pictured) earned him a hard fought half. Matty Raybould brought home his points 3&2 and Jonnie Fisher was back to his best with East Riding's widest winning margin of 5&3.Tom Duck was nearly as dominant in his 4&3 win, before the experienced Lockwood won at the home hole to keep the ER momentum going. Luke Thornton was 2 down at the turn, but raised his game over the back nine to win 2&1 and effectively bring the two sides level at 13-13.
The 'Turnaround at Teesside' was defnitely on.
In match 8, Uzzy's nearest challenger for Player of the Year, Leigh Gawley, ran into a red hot Craig Wren and went down 2&1, depite being two under when they shook hands. Now the maths were simple - East Riding had to win three of the last four matches to have any chance of taking the title.
Tom Brown delivered his point as he has so often over the past couple of years, Warren Burns nearly pulled off the individual comeback of the day, coming from 4 down at the turn before losing on the 18th. Sadly, Hornsea's Phil Wright was beaten 4&3 to give Teesside an unassailable 19 points which made Paul Harper's 2&1 victory in the anchor singles an agonising irrelevance.
So a narrow two point defeat in the end put paid to the title challenge which was made all the more painful when news came through that the Leeds - Halifax Huddersfield match had amazingly ended in a tie.
Congratulations to Halifax & Huddersfield on their YIDU League victory by just two points which left Andy Lockwood and his team ruing their slow start on Teesside and a 10-2 foursomes deficit way back in early June at a rainy Halifax Bradley Hall.
Full results and final league table
The season finishes at the 6 Man Team Championship on Sunday 8 September at Cleckheaton.
Jonathan Clark and Howard Palmer
East Riding Teanm Support
