East Riding Union 21 - 15 Harrogate Union
Filet Golf Club
Monday 26th May 2025
The second match of the 2025 Yorkshire Inter District Union (YIDU) championship for the East Riding followed on quickly from the last match and it was played at the very charming Filey Golf Club.
It was déjà vu! The players were again greeted with difficult and cold conditions and a 25 mph wind with the only consolation that it blew from the south west which made it only slightly warmer than the first match at Scarborough North Cliff. This didn’t bother the surfers and dog walkers on the beautiful beach below with the towering Bempton Cliffs glistening brightly in the distance wrapped in sunshine.
So, team tactics again revolved around keeping the ball below the tree lines and playing the ground game in order prevail in the important Foursomes matches. Using the wind as a friend and not an enemy.
Todays guests were the Harrogate Union who are a good side. Always well drilled and organised by Team Manager Julian Knowles who has done so much for junior golf over the years. The East Riding knew this would be a tight match and the players would have to deliver in order to succeed. The East Riding were without strong players in Ewan Mackenzie and George Walker who were on Yorkshire duties at Dunstanburgh Castle. So, it was call ups for Charles Wright of Ganton (debut) who was again available and Hull's George Pepper. Then only a couple of days before, Alfie Dacey was called into the team following an impressive win in the Ganton Junior Masters in very windy conditions. Ideal preparation. This also shows the importance of having a committed squad who give it their all when called on to do so.
Filey does present good opportunities. The East Riding knew that birdies would have to be made. The key was to map the course well and be decisive as to when to be aggressive. The course often bites when the wrong decision is made. All players in the foursomes electing to go with driver at the opening hole and this tactic yielded a number of birdies. The East Riding had to take control of the foursomes and it was imperative to get a win in the first match.
The new number one pairing of Seth Topham and Charles Wright played some superb golf. Both pairings making a number of birdies. They played solid foursomes golf against a strong Harrogate pairing and teamwork, decisive shot selection and execution ensured that they won on the 18th green. A great start.
Matches 2 and 3 went the way of Harrogate Union with Callum Burns and Ethan Matthews coming up against the excellent Dexter Ward who played superb golf all day. So, match 4 was now crucial to staying in control of the Foursomes. On the 17th, Bobby Beasley played a superb greenside bunker shot down wind with just the right amount of spin to ensure the ball rested five feet away. Under pressure, George Pepper holed the putt to go one up. Although Harrogate won the 18th, it was an important match halved, as in the last two matches the East Riding were cruising to important wins.
In match 5 Alfie Dacey and Luca Boyer never looked in trouble and won 6&5 and the ever-reliable 'Tail End Charlies' from Cave Castle delivered another 2 points - Tom Adcock and Huxley Sawyer (pictured below) winning 5&4. The East Riding's strength in depth was the key to a Foursomes win in the morning session. The East Riding led 7-5 at lunch.
A very close match with all to play for in the singles. Between sessions, a number of the East Riding Boys returned to the driving range to work on executing a low powerful ball flight. This commitment was to eventually pay off! So, it was back to the first tee for the singles and further duties for starter Edward Clark who was now having to raise his voice somewhat to be heard over the strengthening wind.
The East Riding boys knew what they had to do. Led out in the singles by Seth Topham who was again playing Harrogate's strongest player in Harry Richmond from Ilkley. He marched up the hill on the first hole with purpose knowing he had to deliver two points for his team. When he was stood on the 11th tee 3 down it looked as though the points might go to Harrogate. But Seth had other ideas and stepped up a gear. He played inspired golf on the back nine to win 2&1! A leader doing what leaders do!
Charles Wright, making his debut, never looked flustered and was in total control throughout. Again, playing solid strategic golf to win 2&1. Winning the top two matches was crucial to the outcome of the match. Our top order effectively ensured that the star players for Harrogate didn’t deliver a point for their team throughout the day.
A strong performance from the ever-improving Huxley Sawyer saw the East Riding win match 5 2&1. Driving the ball extremely well ensured the win. Then under pressure, Bobby Beasley (pictured below) played beautifully controlled wedge shots at 17 and 18 to win his match 2 up.
The East Riding were now in control of the match, but the middle order found it difficult and came up against some inspired golf from the Harrogate Union. Which meant the score was 15 – 15 with three matches left out on the course. Over to the tail end and they didn’t disappoint.
Strong afternoon performances saw 3&2 wins for Ethan Matthews and Tom Adcock before Alfie Dacey rounded things off 2&1. Alfie hitting the pin and almost holing out with his approach shot on 17 to secure the win. The 'Cavemen' of Adcock and Sawyer both continued their 100% start to the season and sit proudly at the head of the 2025 Player of the Year standings.
This closed out a hard-fought win cheered on by the vocal cormorants and gannets on the cliffside. The result was 21-15 to the East Riding Union. An excellent result in tough conditions made possible by the commitment and desire shown by the lads.
The matches were played in great spirit with good etiquette and credit to Harrogate who played good golf but just came up short. Once again, it was nice to see a few spectators supporting the boys and a big thank you to the parents, starter Edward Clark and Sunil Mukerjea for their help on the day. ERUGC President Dave Greenwood offered great support to the boys all day and provided lovely words of thanks at the end. In his speech he made a special acknowledgement to the memory of Mike Dawson who would have loved to see the boys win at his beloved Filey. This win is very much dedicated to Mike. Kim Burns, very thoughtfully, got the boys to sign a card which will be passed onto Mike's family. This again shows that as a group, the players, Team Manager, parents and Executives support each other and acknowledge the really important things that golf provides us.
Team Manager Stuart Russell was extremely impressed with the commitment, fight and desire shown by the boys which builds a platform for the team with two wins out of two. We now head into a demanding summer of matches, but the boys will return in a couple of months well drilled and ready to go!
A big thank you to Filey Golf Club for being wonderful hosts and providing excellent hospitality. The staff, members and visitors were very welcoming.
In our next match we travel to Northcliffe Golf Club to play Bradford Union on Friday 1st August.
Stuart Russell
Junior Team Manager
