A great win at Thirsk & Northallerton to close the season

The final match of the East Riding’s YIDU season saw the team take on the Harrogate Union at Thirsk and North Allerton GC. After a strong showing at the 6 man inter district event the week before, everyone knew the Harrogate Union were going to prove a very difficult challenge in what has been a transitional season the team.

On a bright and breezy morning in North Yorkshire, the Union were lead off by the strong pairing of Luke Thornton and Warren Burns. They promptly raced round the links to a very impressive 7&6 victory with some quite exceptional golf played by both boys, to be 6 under par after the first 6 holes setting up their victory! Did this auger well? Not quite, as the Union went down heavily in the next 3 matches 2&1, 5&4 and 4&3 respectively. Match 6 also finished early 3&2. So it was left to Match 5 to give the Union some chance of respectability. Harry Mukerjea(Hull) and Ben Staveley( Ganton) produced a very composed performance to win their match 3&1. So half time arrived with the Union 8-4 down.

As the afternoon singles started it was unclear how the match would play out. What did happen, not even the most optimistic foresaw! The opening matches were over in the blink of eye with excellent wins for Luke Thornton 4&3 and Luke Townhill 5&4. Optimism grew very quickly! The next 3 matches all went the way of the home side which put the Union back in trouble. However from the next 7 matches, the boys produced 6 very impressive wins! Warren Burns enjoyed his afternoon’s walk as much as the morning by producing a very good 5&4 victory. A very good day for the young man!

There were also very good wins for George Coope, Harry Mukerjea and Alfie Slater who won their matches 1up, 2&1 and 3&2 respectively. Well done chaps. However the performance of the day and probably the season, has to be from young Callum Burns. He was 5 down with 6 holes to play and promptly plays the last 6 holes in 2under par to turn a loss into a stunning 1up win on the last. Really well done Callum, a great effort. Also with the match now going to the last game on the course, Ben Staveley produced some very composed golf to win on the 17th hole, 2&1 for the Union with everyone from both sides watching. That gave the East Riding a victory of 20-16. A stunning effort boys really well done. It was great to see the boys from both sides out supporting their teammates once their matches had finished.

As always, well done to everyone involved. Thank you to all the volunteers and parents who help make these events happen. Thank you for your hospitality and for being wonderful hosts Thirsk and North Allerton Golf Club. It was greatly appreciated.

So as this is my last match report of this season, a few thank you’s if I may. To our President John, thank you for your help and guidance through the year and acting as a very able Vice Captain! Mr Steve Thornton, thank you for all your support and keeping us all well supplied throughout the year.

To the President elect Mike Dawson, thank you for your support this year. As a team, we wish you well and hope you have a good year as President and I look forward to working with you next year. To Mr and Mrs Clark for your support and help throughout the year, my sincere thanks. To all the family and friends who travelled to our matches, thank you. Without your support in getting the boys to events and acting as additional eyes and ears it would make life very difficult. Thank you. To the clubs we have visited, thank you for your hospitality. We greatly appreciate it.

Thank you to Tommy Risker, Harry Wescott and Jack Eastman who leave us now. Thank you for playing for the Union and good luck with your golf forward. Finally to the team. Thank you chaps. Really enjoyed watching you all grow as people and develop into fine young men. Not bad golfers either!!!

So in closing, stay safe, winter well everyone and take care all and thank you. Strengthen you weakness without weakening your strengths. Bring on next season!!

Sunil Mukerjea
Junior Team Manager
9th September 2022

Tough school for East Riding at Cottingham

Cottingham Parks Golf Club plays host for the penultimate match of the season for the East Riding Union. Today’s visitors are the very strong Leeds Union for Game day 6.

The firm and fast running Cottingham layout had some of its fire dampened by some gentle overnight rain. On a grey Sunday morning, further light rain welcomed both teams to the very nicely presented East Yorkshire course.

The last home game of what has been very much a transitional season for the Union, saw a reasonably unchanged side. There were a couple of changes to the East Riding team because of availability issues.

In the morning Foursomes, Luke Thornton and Harry Wescott opened the East Riding’s account for the day with an impressive 5&3 win. However the East Riding found the next four matches much tougher going incurring defeats in these games. In the final match of the morning session, the Hull Golf Club duo of George Pepper and Harry Mukerjea produced a good performance to win their match 3&2.

So, at half time therefore, the Union were 8-4 down.

Where the morning matches were played under heavy sky’s and rain showers, the afternoon singles matches were greeted with sunshine and blue skies. Was this a positive sign of things to come?!?! Initially the answer was yes. Great performances from Luke Thornton, Luke Townhill and Harry Wescott meant the Union won the top 3 matches 4&3, 6&4 and 2up respectively. However a strong middle order performance by the visitors saw them take hold of the match with the East Riding only managing 2 wins from the next 9 matches.

The overall match result was a win for the Leeds Union 22-14. The matches were played with good sportsmanship and the boys were a credit to both Unions. Well played gentlemen.

Today’s match was the last home match for 2 of the East Riding boys, Harry Wescott and Jack Eastman. It’s was fitting that it was also on their home course. Thank you on behalf of the Union for your efforts and we wish you good luck in life and with your games going forward.

So our last match of the season is at Thirsk and North Allerton GC on Thursday 1st September against the Harrogate Union.

As always, well done to everyone involved. Thank you to all the volunteers and parents who help make these events happen. Thank you for your hospitality and for being wonderful hosts Cottingham Parks Golf Club. It was greatly appreciated.

Well done to the Leeds Union and we look forward to seeing some friendly faces at our next outing.

Sunil Mukerjea
Junior Team Manager
31st July 2022

Morning foursomes leave too much to do for East Riding

On cool damp July morning, the East Riding Union welcomed the Bradford Union to Driffield Golf Club for Game day 5 for the Union.

Some light over night rain had helped softened the fiery fairways slightly and assisted the green staff prepare the course beautifully. Thank you.

Buoyed by a good performance against the York Union, the home side were looking to put back to back wins together for first time this season. There were a couple of changes to the East Riding team because of availability issues. There was also a debut for the promising George Pepper from Hull Golf Club.

On a course which is protected by some clever bunkering, troublesome ditches and water hazards, scoring was very good on both sides.

In the morning Foursomes, Luke Thornton and Luke Townhill, for the East Riding, managed a half in the top match, but the next two matches went quite convincingly the way of visitors. The next three matches were much closer affairs, but still resulted in two wins and a half for the visitors.

So, at half time therefore, the Union were 10-2 down.

A fast start was required to the afternoon singles. All the matches through the first 9 holes, were close affair’s except for Callum Burns from the East Riding, who ran into an inspired opponent in full flight. Unfortunately the back 9 saw defeats for the Union’s top five players.

Warren Burns produced a strong performance to win 2&1 to put a much needed win down for the Union. A very strong showing from the tail helped bring some respectability to the overall result. There was a fantastic win for debutant George Pepper 2&1, and strong wins for Jack Eastman, Alfie Slater and Harry Mukerjea who won their matches 2&1, 4&3 and an impressive 7&6 respectively. A very good battling half from Bobby Beasley meant the Union lost the tie 23-13 overall.

It was noted by the all officials from both Union’s, that it appeared all the matches throughout the day were played in a great spirit. Great credit goes to all those who played. Well done boys.

So our next match is at Cottingham GC on Sunday 31st July against the Leeds Union. As always, well done to everyone involved. Thank you to all the volunteers and parents who help make these events happen. Thank you for your hospitality and for being wonderful hosts Driffield Golf Club. It was greatly appreciated.

Well done to the Bradford Union and we look forward to seeing some friendly faces at our next outing.

Sunil Mukerjea
Junior Team Manager
28th July 2022

East Riding bounce back at Scarthingwell

Please see the result report for the ERUGC Under 18's vs York here, report to follow soon.

A difficult day at Lees Hall

Game day 3 took the Union to Lees Hall Golf Club in Sheffield for the match against a strong Sheffield Union.

There were a couple of changes to the East Riding team with Tommy Risker starting his first match of the season and Harry Mukerjea standing in for an injured Warren Burns.

On a very picturesque and undulating layout with some tight lines of certain tees, 4 tees shots off the first tee in the morning paid a visit to the internal Out of Bounds right of the first fairway, which made for an interesting start for all!!!

The morning Foursomes produced early finishes for all matches. In the top match Tommy Risker and Jack Northgraves won comprehensively with a 7&6 victory whilst in match 4 Cooper Beck and Harry Mukerjea produced a strong performance to win their match 4&3. At half time therefore, the Union were 8-4 down and very much in the contest.

The afternoon singles started promisingly with a good win for Tommy Risker 3&2. This proved to be the only win in afternoon. However when considering 7 of the next 11 matches went to the 17th hole or finished on the 18th green, goes to show the 2 teams were fairly evenly matched. The Union lost 28-8.

So we have a little break until our next match which is at Scarthingwell GC on Sunday 3rd July against the York Union.

As always, well done to everyone involved. Thank you to all the volunteers and parents who help make these events happen. Thank you for your hospitality and for being wonderful hosts Lees Hall Golf Club. It was greatly appreciated.

Well done to the Sheffield Union and we look forward to seeing some friendly faces at our next outing. Keep practicing!!

Good luck and best wishes to those sitting exams this summer.

Tough loss at home to Teesside

The second match of the season took the Union for a day out at the seaside and a trip to Filey Golf Club for a home game against the Teesside Union. 

A few changes were necessitated because of availability issues. So there were starts for Jack Northgraves (Scarborough North Cliff), Erjan Kuzu ( Cottingham) and a Union debut for Ben Staveley (Ganton). 

As with the Friday’s match, a strong cold wind off the North Sea meant for a very bracing start! It also provided an interesting challenge for both side playing the course in rather challenging conditions at times. 

The Union got off to a good start with a win in the first match out for Luke Thornton (Hessle) and Jack Northgraves (SNC) 2up. Our visitors won the next 4 matches to put them in a strong position, 8-2 up. So to the last match attentions turned. Harry Mukerjea (Hull) and Ben Staveley (Ganton) managed to hang on for a win 1up. So at half time, the Union were still in the race at only 8-4 down. 

The afternoon singles came around with positive vibes running through the team that a small deficit could be overturned. The opening exchanges saw matches going one way and then the another. However as the weather started to change so did the Unions fortunes. 

Positive contributions came with a win from Jack Northgraves and a half from Harry Wescott however Teesside proved just to strong on the day.A valiant effort by the boys saw the Union on the wrong side of a 29-7 loss. 

So our next match is at Lees Hall GC on Sunday 22th May against the Sheffield Union! As always, well done to everyone involved. Thank you to all the volunteers and parents who help make these events happen. Thank you for your hospitality and for being wonderful hosts Filey Golf Club. It was greatly appreciated.

Well done to the Teesside Union and we look forward to seeing some friendly faces at our next outing.

We were hoping for a strong start to the season, resplendent in our new kit, courtesy of Union main sponsor, Aaron Pheasant, Head Professional at Hull Golf Club. 

As the first tee shots were struck, a cool, easterly wind made the course a different proposition with both sides finding conditions challenging. 

The Union got off to a fine start with a terrific showing from Warren Burns (Cottingham Parks) and Alfred Anderson (Hornsea), proving far too strong for their opponents seeing them off with a 6&5 win. Excellent, or so we thought! Unfortunately, that was the only bright point in the morning Foursomes which saw Halifax/Huddersfield take a commanding 10-2 lead at lunch. 

The team knew a fast start was required in the afternoon singles and despite valiant efforts across the board it was not to be. It was a tough afternoon for poor Harry Wescott (Cottingham Parks) who ran into an inspired Habib Khan who was three under through five and never took his foot off the gas. To his credit, despite his disappointment, Harry stayed out on the course supporting his colleagues. Well done Harry.

There were wins for; Cooper Beck, Bobby Beasley, Alfred Anderson and Alfie Slater with half point contributions from; Luke Townhill, Ewan Mackenzie and Warren Burns. These numbers meant that the Union was on the wrong side of a 23-13 loss.

Our next match is at Filey GC on Sunday 24th April against the Teesside Union. So not long to wait to get our first win on the board! 

Well done to everyone involved, all the Union Officials, volunteers and parents who help make these events happen. A big thank you to all at the Hull GC for being wonderful hosts, as always. 

Well done to the Halifax/Huddersfield Union, deserved winners, and we look forward to seeing some more friendly faces at our next outing.

Sunil Mukerjea
Junior Team Manager
22nd April 2022