East Riding 20 - 16 Leeds
Beverley & East Riding Golf Club
Sunday 17th August, 2025
Cattle on greens, wires hit, free drops for cow pats and an opponent no show - just a standard day on the Westwood as East Riding took on Leeds in a must win match at Beverley & East Riding Golf Club.
The day got off to an unfortunate start for the visitors as Joel O'Boyle got the dreaded DNA against his name - 'did not arrive'. First points for East Riding in the foursomes, but left season debutant Dan Digby and George Clark with nearly six hours to wait until they hit a ball in anger.
Aaron Brettell and Jacob Hodgson led the team off and were down early on and looking for some luck around the turn. It came in the form of Beverley's famous wires around their tiny, but immaculate greens. Jacob's second to the 12th from 70 yards was destined to race way over the back of the green, but clattered the wire and stopped dead. Electing to replay the shot, the Hull youngster checked his lob wedge perfectly to three feet which Aaron duly converted for birdie.
A big turning point in the top match which got them back to all square and allowed them to push ahead over the back nine. Having taken the lead however, they were disappointed to three putt the last to leave the match tied.
Jonnie Fisher and Tom Duck struggled all morning against the impressive Leeds duo of Trant and Bennett to even the scrores at 3-3. Wins were just around the corner though as Andy Lockwood and Matty Raybould scorched around the already burnt fairways and recorded an impressive 6&4 victory.
Lewis Hunt and Jack Clark were out on the Westwood a bit longer and finally held on to win 1up at the last (pictured below) as the Leeds birdie putt didn't catch enough of the right lip. Leigh Gawley and Paul Harper won at the 16th to complete a useful morning's work which had East Riding up 9-3.
The singles got off to a flying start with a slight rejig in the order due to some of the team heading up to Cleveland for the Yorkshire Amateur. Aaron Brettell and Jacob Hodgson weren't in the mood to hang around and, despite a bovine intervention on the 3rd green which was dealt with by Team Manager Rees Brown and a big stick, the top two recorded consumate 5&3 victories to set East Riding on their way.
Leeds weren't done though and dominated matches 3, 4 and 5 against Matty Raybould, Jonnie Fisher and Tom Duck to spark hopes of a fightback. Jack Clark was 1up playing the last where both players hit the green. The Leeds putt slid by and hands were shaken leaving East Riding now looking for just two more wins.
Andy Lockwood's stiff shoulder nearly held out, but lost to the latecomer O'Boyle on the last. Lewis Hunt moved the total to 17 points with a seamless 4&3 display of crisp iron shots which left the ever dependable Leigh Gawley to don his postman outfit and deliver the winning points on the last green after a lost ball at 17 had done nothing for the stress levels of the ever increasing gallery. With his 100% return on the day, Leigh stretched his lead at the top of the Player of the Year Standings to an almost unassailable seven points.
It was now about adding to the positive goal difference from the last three men out on the course. Dan Digby and George Clark suffered from their lack of morning action and both lost, whilst Paul Harper halved the last match on the course (pictured below) to give East Riding a 20-16 victory.
A big thanks as always to the host club Beverley & East Riding who looked after players and officials so warmly all day. To Dave Jackson and his greenkeepers for presenting the course in such wonderful condition, despite the obvious dry spell being against them. Starter Andy Pittaway safely negotiated the long walk to the first tee and got all the matches away on schedule superbly as always. ERUGC President Dave Greenwood and Secretary John Illingworth roamed the pastures to support and finally to Team Support Howard Palmer for keeping everything on track despite the complications of a no-show early on.
The final match of an exciting YIDU season is at Sandburn Hall on Sunday 7th September against York Union. With East Riding still tied at the top of the standing with Halifax & Huddersfield it could be a day for the calculators as the league season draws to a close.
Jonathan Clark
East Riding Press Secretary
