York Union of Golf Clubs
Mens IDU Matchday 4
Following on form the Mens teams success against Halifax and Huddersfield, it was an away day this time for Andy Robson's team at Northcliffe GC, against Bradford Union.
Due to the Sandburn Hall Club Championships, Robson was missing 2 regulars and injuries and family commitments for 3 others meant it was a return to the team for Ben Plaxton, Wayne Strutt, Jonny Pattenden and a triumphant Matt Dolling, if just a little tired, from winning York GC's Club Championship the previous day! The fifth player was Scarthingwell Junior, Max Hollinghurst who was making his Men's Team debut after impressing so well at the York Amateur.
Missing their regular partners, first out was Tom Pyman and George Robson who at their 5th attempt playing together for Union or when they were younger for Yorkshire Boys, managed a win ... 2&1. The less said about the next few matches the better, Fulford regulars, Tom Kelly and Sam Norman went down 4&3, as did new pairing of Dolling and Rob Hutton. It was an earlier bath for Pete Jones and Jimmy Batt, 5&4. Plaxton and Hollinghurst had a good battle in match 5 and had an early lead, but in the end were pegged back to a 2&1 defeat. The morning ended with good news as Pattenden and Strutt had a very convincing 7&6 win. So it was 8-4 to Bradford at Lunch.
The afternoon started brightly, a run of 6 birdies in 8 holes for Pyman meant he won 5&4. Robson had it all to do when his opponent, a Northcliffe Legend went 5 under through 4 holes, but by the time it got to the 17th, the match was all square. Unfortunately for Robson, a bogey on 17 meant a birdie was needed on 18, but both players took 3 on the beautiful par 3 18th and therefore lost 1 down. Dolling felt the effects of playing 36 holes for the last 3 days, and lost 5&4, but the next 3 matches went to the 18th with points to be won that could have made all the difference come the end of the day, however, both Kelly and Hutton putted out for halved matches, Norman though, won his match 1 up. Hollinghurst didn't dissapoint his watching Captain and played well for 17 holes, but got beat 2&1 by another young Bradford player. Max's time will come. York's "Tail" was full of experience and the result was going to go down to the wire ... if it wasn't for the impending thunderstorm! Jones lost 4&3, then Batt won 2&1, leaving 3 matches on the course hoping to beat the weather. Common sense prevailed as the lightening crashed around the course so the last remaining matches agreed to share the points as a resumption in play was unlikely.
Final Score was Bradford 21 - York 15
Next match is home at York GC versus East Riding
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