Seniors hold sway at Ogden

New Halifax-Huddersfield Union team boss Andy Shaw took more encouragement than his junior side counterpart Tommy Ward from last Sunday’s warm-up match.

The seniors beat the juniors 4-1 at wet and windy Ogden in the traditional match before the start of the Yorkshire Inter-District League season.

The sides played five fourball contests with the juniors receiving threequarter handicap.

Not all the seniors were available although any initial ripples of discontent about Shaw’s appointment in succession to Chris Mear appear to have dissipated.

Bradley Hall’s Shaw said: “Over the years I have played with or against all the regular first team players and know their game and ability well.

“So to me it is more important to use this friendly for introducing some players who may never have played for the union before but could play a big part in the future.”

Dewsbury’s James Ward (0) and Daniel Hartley (1) were first out and both impressed Shaw in a 5 & 4 success over Outlane’s Jack Bates and Tom Marsden.

Huddersfield’s Aaron Schnacke (+1) and Jake Hamilton (4) won 4 & 3 against Meltham’s Tom Hunt and Hebden Bridge’s Henry Butterworth.

Schnacke is an established top performer for the Union and Shaw believes Hamilton could follow in his footsteps. “I was extremely impressed at his ball striking and consistency,” said Shaw.

Ben Adamson (1) of Crow Nest and Andy Wilford (3) of Crosland Heath both played well en route to a 3 & 1 win over Bradley Hall pair Elliott Lister and Joe Lowson.

Former Halifax clubmates Chris Lander (1) - who is now at Bradley Hall - and Clive Crawshaw had a 4 & 3 win over Oliver Tasker of Willow Valley and Greg Hunter-Hudson of Halifax.

The juniors hit back in the last match with Saddleworth’s Ben Pullan - son of Union president Dave - and Longley Park’s George Castle beating Huddersfield’s Richard Broadley (0) and Dewsbury’s Matthew Colcombe (+1) 2 & 1.

Shaw believes his side has strength in depth while Ward was without five of his likely starters because of a colleges event in Bath.

Jamie Bower, a member of Halifax-Huddersfield Union club Meltham, won both his matches as Yorkshire beat Lincolnshire 14.5-3.5 at The Holme GC near Scunthorpe.

The Scratch Team Championships, one of the Halifax-Huddersfield Union’s flagship events, has been brought forward a week to Sunday, June 29 due to Tour de France road closures.