East Riding 27 - 9 Teesside
Scarborough South Cliff Golf Club
Sunday 18th May, 2025
A new look East Riding Men's Team recorded an emphatic win over Teesside to begin their 2025 YIDU League campaign.
On a bitterly cold day at Scarborough South Cliff, new Team Manager Rees Brown looked on proudly as his patched up side put on a near faultless display to run out 27-9 winners and bury the memory of the 17-19 reverse against Teesside in the final fixture of the 2024 season.
With several 'big guns' not on the cliff top through unavailability, injury or dealyed returns from colleges in the States, the new gaffer was conscious that his foursomes pairings would be key. A stirring first team talk (below) did the trick and Brown's Boys were off and running.
A natural pairing was that of Scarborough North Cliff's Tom Benson and Hull's George Clark, teammates from the strong junior side a few years back. Rees slotted them in at 4 and they ran out 7&6 winners to put the first point on the board having only just come back over the bridge.
Up ahead, the top three matches all went up the 18th, with Matty Raybould (Hornsea) and Tom Brown (Ganton) winning the 18th for a half followed by Warren Burns (Hessle) and Tom Sanghera (Filey) gelling well to win 2up. Match 3 saw one of the shots of the day as Steve Dale (Ganstead) gunned a 3 hybrid onto the 18th green from 280 yards to secure the birdie to tie the match with new partner Paul Wray of Burstwick.
The final two matches were poles apart in terms of age and experience, but it was the young pairing of Seth Topham (Hornsea) and George Walker (Ganton) who delivered their point on debut - a superb 3&2 success against Alfie Baldwin and Matthew Robinson. Time after time the boys dug in for gritty halves to stay ahead thanks to Seth's hot putter and George's assured iron play.
The bottom match put Teesside's first win on the board as Leigh Gawley (Hornsea) and Paul Harper (SNC) couldn't get going and had an early lunch following their 5&4 reverse. Both were determined to right those wrongs in the singles - and they were both true to their word.
So, 8-4 up at lunch after a cold morning, which could have easily been 6-6.
Early finishes and final hole thrillers meant that some of the bottom order got cracking in the singles first. George Clark continued his morning form and had 2 twos on the front nine to turn at 3up. He ran out a comfortable 5&4 winner to set East Riding on their way to the magic 19 points. Paul Harper (below 2nd left) was out second after his early morning finish and shook hands on the 15th green. 12 points in the bag. Captain Rees (below left) and George's proud, but cold Grandpa Edward (below right) were all smiles with the first two winners on the 15th fairway.
The original batting order then followed, with lead out man Matty Raybould going up 18 again, but this time got the full point with his 2up win. Tom Sanghera fought back for a valuable half, followed by Paul Wray who also went to the home hole, winning 2up. Tom Brown ran into a Fox in form in match 4 and succumbed 4&3. Steve Dale was 4 up through 12 holes, but had to see off a mini fightback to win on the 17th via the footpath high above the left of the tough par 3. 19 points in the bag and thoughts turned to the lower order to get the goal difference going even at this early stage of the season.
Warren Burns's big hitting in the stiff wind was a feature in match 6 (8th on the course), sending his drive so far right off the spectacular 5th tee that no-one was sure which fairway (or course for that matter) he was on. A succession of impressive drives and approach shots, including a 376 yard bomb at 11, 20 feet of 'checkinoffski' (backspin for those unfamiliar with the term) at 12 and a stinger driver into the breeze at 13 finally did for his bemused opponent. Full points for Warren on the day.
3&2 victories followed for Leigh Gawley and Tom Benson, which left the two teenage debutants out there battling in front of a growing, but increasingly cold, gallery (below)
George Walker was calmness personified in winning 3&2, whilst his Yorkshire Boys teammate Seth Topham was extremely unfortunate not to get anything out of his match having led through 12 holes.
A great start to the season where all 12 players contributed points to the cause. [Player of the Year standings] There will be much tougher challenges to come, but the durable dozen which Rees put out proved that they all belong at this level.
Thanks to Scarborough South Cliff for presenting the course in such good condition and looking after players and officials so royally in the cosy warm clubhouse all day. Union starter Andy Pittaway was always in command on the first tee as the green was almost in range for some of the bombers. I suspect he will be warmer tomorrow when he jets off to Greece for a bit of proper sunshine! ERUGC President Dave Greenwood and his frostbitten wife Jackie supported the team all day along with Dave Topham and Edward and Eileen Clark.
On to Ripon City in gameweek two on Sunday 8th June against Harrogate Union. The eagle might not have landed just yet, but it has certainly taken off! See you there!
Jonathan Clark
ERUGC Press Secretary
