East Riding 18 - 18 Halifax & Huddersfield
Driffield Golf Club
Sunday 22nd June, 2025
If this was boxing, this match would go down as the third in a classic trilogy of world heavyweight title bouts. It all began in 2023 with a cliff top tie at Filey, followed by a narrow damp defeat at Halifax Bradley Hall before this year's much anticipated drama at Driffield.
The morning temperature was matched by a welcome warmth in East Riding's foursomes play. Out of the gates quickly, Steve Uzzell and Jack Northgraves, back from college in the US, saw off Hanson and Green 4&3. Newly crowned ER Amateur Champion Matty Raybould and Tom Sanghera soon followed with a 3&2 win.
Tom Duck and Jonnie Fisher halved before Halifax & Huddersfield finally got a win on the board in match 4 against the previously unbeaten Paul Wray and partner Steve Dale. Any score was possible at lunchtime as the final two matches came back across the trout stream with both very tight. However, Leigh Gawley and Paul Harper won at the 18th, as did the experienced anchor pair of Locky and Reggie - Lockwood and Lamb taking East Riding to a 9-3 lead at lunch.
On to the singles and Uzzy earned himself first use of the showers with his customary high speed victory at the top of the order, winning 3&1. His maximum points on the day take him joint top of the 2025 Player of the Year standings. [He is pictured top getting up and down on the 16th to take control of his match]
In match 2 Jack Northgraves had double bunker trouble at the dog leg 16th and went on to lose on the next green. Matty ran into six birdies from the talented George Hanson, before Tom Sanghera restored East Riding's six point lead with a consumate display of putting in his 6&5 win.
So, 13 - 7 to East Riding with eight matches still out there spread across the Sunderlandwick estate. Captain Rees Brown and Team Support Howard Palmer weren't celabrating too early and went far and wide to find the three further wins required.
Tom Duck looks odds on to provide the first one, but lost the final three holes to Huddersfield's Josh Morton. Jonnie Fisher showed all of his battling qualities to tie the match after winning the 16th and 17th, but tree trouble down the last cost the Hornsea man the chance of taking anything from the match.
Paul Wray also came from behind to stand all square after 16, but after an 'unmentionable' at 17, lost on the home hole. Steve Dale's match followed a similar pattern, but he held on for a valuable half to keep the match score level at 14 - 14.
Halifax & Huddersfield hit the front for the first time when Chris Mather took down Mark Lamb 4&3 and the away team sensed a famous victory at 16-14. Former captain Andy Lockwood had other ideas and closed out the bottom match 3&2 to leave all eyes on Gawley and Harper, playing at 10 and 11 respectively.
Leigh had a titanic battle and, despite a classy eagle at the 9th (pictured above), was always playing catch up. He was still 2 down with 3 to play, but somehow found the will to win 16 and 18 for a heroic half. 17 - 17.
Attention turned to Paul who won the 17th to go 1up which meant that East Riding were guaranteed at least a tie against their West Yorkshire opponents. After a miracle escape from the greenside bunker at the last, Paul (pictured below) saw his six footer slide agonisingly by to leave the sides deadlocked at 18 all. A fair result in the end, with both sides feeling that they could have made a big statement with a win.
Big thanks as always to starter Andy Pittaway who kept everyone to time on the first tee and to all at Driifield Golf Club for presenting the course in such wonderful condition and looking after players and officials throughout the long day. ERUGC President Dave Greenwood supported for most of the day and good to see Ripon Top Gun Seth and his dad backing the troops as the match reached its exciting finish.
So, East Riding remain unbeaten and lie second in the YIDU standings on 'goal difference' behind today's defending champion opponents. See fixtures, results and table here.
Next up is another home fixture at Hull Golf Club against Bradford Union on Sunday 13th July.
Jonathan Clark
ERUGC Press Secretary
