Tod trio are clear-cut victors

Winners: Yorkshire Union president John Shaw with, from the left, Frank Greaves, Dave Stafford and Mark Birkett.

The Halifax-Huddersfield Union club’s trio of Mark Birkett, Dave Stafford and Frank Greaves were in fine form.

They totalled 448 for the two rounds to beat Hallamshire by 14 shots with Alwoodley a further eight shots further back.

Eighteen clubs were represented and the top six are promoted.

Former Ogden player Birkett had rounds of 72 and 78 for a 150 total, a score matched by Stafford with two rounds of 75.

Greaves, like Stafford an ex-West End player, did even better with a 75 followed by a 73. That left him just one behind Alwoodley’s plus three handicapper Will Shucksmith, whose 147 total was the best of the day.

Ex-Ogden player Birkett picked up the prize for the best 18 holes in the morning with his level par 72, which included five birdies in his last six holes.

Competition standard scratch was 74 so after brifly having a handicap of one, he has been returned to scratch.

The Rive Rocks trio had qualified for the event after finishing sixth in the preliminary round at Normanton last week.

They will now look to make further progress up the championship when they contest the Division Six event at Forest Park GC, Stockton next Wednesday.

Result: Todmorden 448, Hallamshire 462, Alwoodley 470, Scarborough North Cliff 476, Barnsley 478, Filey 478, Wortley 478, South Bradford 480, Horsforth 481, Ripon 488, York 488, Hickleton 490, Silkstone 492, Doncaster Town Moor 497, Kirbymoorside 499, Sickleholme 503, Tinsley Park 507, Burstwick Country 513.