East Riding 29 - 07 Bradford
Hull Golf Club
Sunday 13th July, 2025
East Riding put out possibly the longest side ever assembled for their home clash against Bradford Union at Hull Golf Club. Time after time par fives were reduced to a drive and a flick and a handful of par fours were suddenly in range - James Braid would turn in his grave as 2025 marks the centenary of golf at Kirk Ella.
The day began with Jack Maxey (pictured below) striping his baby draw some 90 yards past the marker post at the par 5 opening hole. The large crowd gathered around the first tee could only gasp in the morning sunshine as subsequent tee shots followed suit, including a monster from home player Charlie Milner who left partner Tom Duck with only a gap wedge into the green.
Maxey and Matty Raybould - the top pair from Hornsea - played flawless golf and prevailed 3&2 to get the day off to a fast start. Saeson debutants Hessle's Aaron Brettell and Hull's Jacob Hodgson couldn't quite get their best golf going and lost by the same margin in match 2, before the top bombers of Milner and Duck got themselves in the cool of the clubhouse first with a destructive 7&6 win.
Bradford were not here to make up the numbers and pulled the match level when their 4th pair beat another all Hornsea pairing of Leigh Gawley and Seth Topham. Tom Brown and Steve Dale (pictured below) gelled really well in their last hole victory before the 'rear gunners' of Ewan Mackenzie and the third home player George Clark capped a good morning's work for East Riding with a 4&2 victory.
8-4 at lunchtime and Captain Rees Brown reminmded the team that it was not just about the match win, it was about a big win to boost the 'goal difference' as the business end of the season approaches.
Jack Maxey was clearly listening and gave a ball striking masterclass in his 5&3 victory. His birdie at 14 (pictured below) followed by his driver to 6 feet at the 343 yard 15th will live long in the memory for those who witnessed it.
Aaron Brettell and Matty Raybould won at the same hole, with the former chipping in from 20 yards to seal his point. Jacob Hodgson and Tom Duck were both taken to the 17th, but delivered their points to take East Riding to the brink of victory.
Charlie Milner hung on to win at the last to confirm the team victory, but Seth Topham was left to rue a couple of loose holes when leading 2up to succumb on the home green.
East Riding soon got back to winning ways with hole average boosting victories for Ewan Mackenzie (7&6), Leigh Gawley (4&3) and then a best of the day (and season) win for Steve Dale by 8&7. Steve deservedly jumps to the head of affairs in the Player of the Year standings.
Tom Brown was coolness personified under his wide brimmed hat to deliver his point 2&1, which left George Clark to come from behind twice on the back nine to take a valuable half in the anchor match.
So ten wins and a half secured the dominant scoreline which Rees had asked for. To round off the day, news came through of (only) a narrow victory for title rivals Halifax & Huddersfield which confirmed East Riding as the new YIDU league leaders on 'goal difference'.
Full results and YIDU league standings
ERUGC President Dave Greenwood thanked the greens staff at Hull Golf Club for presenting the course superbly and the clubhouse team for looking after the 24 players and officials so warmly. Starter Andy Pittaway kept his usual good order on the first tee and was indebted to Dave Topham for his marshalling up the fairway to signal when the coast was clear for another missile to be launched safely!
Next up is a trip to Wath Golf Club to face Sheffield Union on Sunday 3rd August. Matches don't come any bigger!
Jonathan Clark
ERUGC Press Secretary
