Shaw’s men let it slip

Halifax's Jamie Smith won both his matches

Last year’s runners-up have slipped to fifth out of eight teams in the table with just a trip to Burstwick GC to take on East Riding on Sunday, September 7 to come.

Andy Shaw’s side were not helped by having to make a couple of late changes.

Andy Wilford was ruled out with a back injury and Matt Colcombe with work commitments, but Shaw was able to draw on the experience of Frank Greaves and Clive Crawshaw.

Blustery conditions made it a tough test for both teams and Halifax-Huddersfield unusually did well in the foursomes, taking a 7-5 lead.

Shaw was the only one of the top six to lose in the singles but Bradford’s strength in depth told and they won the bottom six matches to run out comfortable winners.

It was the visitors’ first success of the season, although they had halved two of their previous contests.

Shaw said there had been no lack of effort on his players’ part.

“ Unfortunately in the singles we struggled. The top of the order got some good results but further down we were on the wrong end of some close matches.

“There was a great team spirit again and nobody gave up. This was summed up by Jake Hamilton, who took his match to the last hole after being five down at one stage.”

York clinched the title when they beat reigning champions Sheffield 21-15 at Fulford.

Scores (Hx-Hudds names first) - foursomes: A Schnacke and J Smith bt B Mountain and J Laybourne 2 and 1, R Broadley and A Shaw lost to C Green and D Bairstow 4 & 3, G McLean and C Crawshaw finished all square with H tetley and B Cheetham, B Tupman and F Greaves lost to J Mountain and J Darcy 3 & 2, B Adamson and J Hamilton bt J Hussain and J Marshall by 2 holes, J Hazelden and D Hatley bt A Busfield and R Malloy 4 & 3.

Singles: A Schnacke (Hudds) finished all square with B Mountain, J Smith (Halifax) bt C Green by 1 hole, R Broadley (Hudds) finished all square with D Bairstow, A Shaw (Bradley Hall) lost to J Laybourne by 1 hole, G McLean(Meltham) finished all square with B Cheetham, B Hupman (Hudds) bt H Tetley by 2 holes, F Greaves (West End) lost to R Molloy 3 & 2, C Crawshaw (Halifaxc) lost to J Hussain by 1 hole, B Adamson (Crow Nest Park) lost to J Mountain 3 & 2, D Hartley (Dewsbury) lost to J Marshall by 1 hole, J Hazelden (Outlane) lost to J Darcy 3 & 2, J Hamilton (Huddersfield) lost to A Busfield by 1 hole.

Standings (all played six): York 12 pts, Sheffield 9, East Riding 7, Leeds 6, Halifax-Huddersfield 4, Bradford 4, Teesside 3, Harrogate 3.