ERUGC u18s 24 – 12 Halifax & Huddersfield u18s
Ganstead Park Golf Club
Sunday 21st June 2026
The second match of the 2026 Yorkshire Inter District Union (YIDU) championship for the East Riding took place at Ganstead Park Golf Club.
The very welcoming club was bathed in hot sunshine and the first thing to do on the day was to congratulate the club on their 50th Anniversary. Congratulations to all members and staff at the club on a celebratory milestone. Ganstead Park has always been a very social club, and several members were in attendance to offer their support. Established in 1976 as a 9 hole course, Ganstead Park has matured wonderfully over the years and is an extremely good and fair test of golf. It has produced some excellent players over the years and is a very important part of East Hull’s sporting arena.
The key to playing Ganstead Park is distance control and most importantly to never leave a chip or putt above the hole. Particularly, on the greens with the sloping run offs. The team talk from Team Manager Stuart Russell centred around this tactic and to maintain the excellent team spirit and desire that the squad has in abundance. Dealing with positional tactics on the greens was no doubt influential in the match result.
Today’s guests were the Halifax and Huddersfield Union who are a much improving and young side. Team Manager Anthony Kendall, with the assistance of Frank Greaves are clearly instigating a youth policy bringing some excellent young players through the ranks. In time, they will have the same success that their men’s team is having.
The East Riding were without strong players in Seth Topham, Ewan Mackenzie and Charles Wright, but the return of Callum Burns strengthened the top order. Encouragingly for the future, a debut was to be made, and young Luke Robinson was given his chance to gain experience in the team. Only 12 months ago he was starting out in the Development Squad and now at the age of 13 he was to play in the lower middle order. Congratulation Luke, all your hard work has paid off!
We are very much improved in foursomes and the plan was to play aggressive in the early holes to build a lead and then safe strategic golf would bring home the results.
The East Riding had to take control of the foursomes, and it was imperative to get a win in the first match. The number one pairing of George Walker and Luca Boyer got us underway in front of the members drinking coffee on the balcony.
George and Luca played excellent golf and due to some excellent strategic putting, they ensured that they won on the 17th green. A great start.
Matches 2 and 3 tore through the course like a flying hurricane and drained putts like a loaded freight train! Callum Burns and Tom Hinks played the golf of the day making a number of birdies to cruise to a 5&4 win. Then Max Walker and Harry Earl continued in the same vein and solid golf ensured a 4&3 win.
So, match 4 was now crucial to staying in control of the Foursomes and maintaining momentum. Ethan Matthews and Louie Brookes (pictured below) were 2 up with 3 to play but determined golf from Jamie Ellis and Matthew Kaye ensure a 1 up win on the last and the first points for Halifax and Huddersfield. The match was closed out in style by Matthew Kaye executing a precision wedge with the correct trajectory and spin to land 4 feet from the hole on the top tier of the green. Jamie Ellis duly holed the birdie putt and they shook hands.
In match 6, Alfie Dacey and debutant Luke Robinson were quickly 4 down, but showed the desire and determination that this squad pride themselves on and they fought back bravely to lose on the last hole.
In the penultimate pairing, East Riding’s Ben Staveley and Luke Green played some excellent golf but they came up against the almost unstoppable Ed Larner and Spencer Walton. The Halifax pairing won in commanding fashion 4&2.
Another solid performance in the foursomes with two defeats on the 18th green. Lunch on the balcony with the teams tied 6-6! All to play for……
Andy Pittaway (pictured below right) was ahead at the first tee to ensure the East Riding boys were started with encouragement and professionalism.
The East Riding boys knew what they had to do. Led out in the singles by George Walker who was again playing Halifax/Huddersfield’s strongest player in Dan Henbest. He led with confidence as he always does and fought to the very end but unfortunately succumbed on the 18th green. Dan Henbest has made over 30 appearances for the Halifax and Huddersfield Union, and this was his last match before he flies to the US to embark on a golf scholarship at Charleston University, West Virginia. We wish Dan all the very best.
Callum Burns played unstoppable inspired golf to lead his match 6up at the turn. It was a ball striking masterclass resulting in several birdies and consolidation on the back nine ensured he closed his match out 4&3.
Tom Hinks played similar golf continuing in the same style as the morning. He comfortably won his match on the 15th green.
Luca Boyer did what Luca does. Solid tee to green and then gave nothing away on the greens Hitting bomb after bomb, followed by excellent proximity to the hole ensured a 4&3 win.
But some of the best golf of the day came later from Alfie Dacey. Looking in total control he cruised to 3 under par for 9 holes and then safely saw his match home in a commanding 6&5 win!
In the middle order, Ethan Matthews and Max Walker continued to turn the screw winning their matches 5&4 and 3&2 respectively. Ethan was up against a great young talent in Ed Fearnley. One of the brightest prospects in Yorkshire golf. But Ethan secured the match by birdieing the long 13th and then hitting a precise iron shot close to the pin on the 14th.
So, it was left to Ben Staveley to ultimately win the points that would ensure a victory for the East Riding Union. Facing a very difficult shot from the back of the 17th, he played the most delightful chip shot that grabbed on the second bounce to allow gravity to let it roll and settle 3 inches from the hole. Ben showing all his experience to deliver the winning points!
However, the East Riding weren’t done, and it was great to see Luke Green and Louie Brookes comfortably win the final two matches and secure their first singles wins in only their second match. At the young age of 13, Luke Robinson performed admirably and showed he will part of this team for many years to come. He was 5 down after 7 holes to Freddie Kelly who was 2 under par, holing putts from everywhere. Many young golfers would have given up but not the East Riding boys. Luke made a number of birdies to take his match down the last hole and only a superb birdie from Freddie ensured a 1up win.
What was wonderful to see, was that every single East Riding Player walked down the last two holes to encourage Luke. This shows the team spirit we have in the squad and the respect that all the boys have for each other. I’m proud of you lads!
The result was 24-12 to the East Riding Union which builds a great platform for the rest of the season. It was an excellent result in warm weather made possible by the commitment and desire shown by the lads.
Credit to the Halifax and Huddersfield Union who never gave up and played with good etiquette in the spirit of the game. It was nice to see a few spectators supporting the boys and a big thank you to the parents, starter Andy Pittaway, Alan Hutchinson, John Illingworth and Tom Elder for their help and support on the day.
Thank you to the Ganstead Golf Club who were excellent hosts. The hospitality was excellent; the course was presented well, and the staff and members showed us a warm welcome. And thank you to Mike Milner for his support in hosting the fixture.
Being a Hull Kingston Rovers supporter I obviously have a lot of enjoyable days in the East of Hull. But this was one of the best!
Stuart Russell
Junior Team Manager
