CHAMPS AGAIN!

By Richard Hodgkinson

Sheffield’s top golfers have retained the Yorkshire Inter District League title.

Almost twelve months to the day after pulling off an outrageous 30 yard 18th green chip in to win his crucial singles match against York, Tim Brind closed out Harry O’Callaghan of Bradford by the less stressful margin of 6&5 at Northcliffe, and in so doing brought in the point that guaranteed victory - ultimately by 22 points to 14  - and with it a fifth league title in six years.

 Sheffield Celebrates Victory at Northcliffe

The 2016 title was won without a repeat of the final day drama of last year, as Sheffield took control from the off against Bradford. The Lindrick pair of Bailey Gill and Nathan Fell won the second foursomes match by 5&4, a margin matched in game three by Jamie Harrison and Alex Fitzpatrick. Despite Ben Brewster’s chip shot at Northcliffe’s dramatic 18th somehow failing to drop, leaving him and Nick Poppleton defeated in game one, the foursomes ran out 8-4 in Sheffield’s favour.

There were further big wins throughout the early afternoon singles, and six games remained on the course by the time Brind sealed victory: “It may not have had the tension of last year, but from a Captain’s point of view, that’s no bad thing,” reflected Sheffield’s leader Neil Stones: “And believe me, this feels just as sweet.”

Once again, the unlucky runners-up were York, who, despite their opening day victory over the eventual champions, were edged out on games won, having matched Sheffield’s record of six wins and one defeat over the season. York manager Martin Greaves commented, “Well done Sheffield – we pushed you hard yet again!” They certainly had done, and with the gulf in resources between the two unions, Greaves and his side deserve great credit for creating another YIDU season of such excitement and quality.

“We knew York would push us all the way, they have such a strong team,” said Stones. “What they achieve for a Union of only twelve clubs is remarkable. Our strength in depth is our great advantage, but that’s no good unless you have the team ethos to make it work. And this team has such a great bond. Every one of them goes out there playing for their mates. There’s really no feeling like winning as a team, and that is exactly what we have done.”

Stones’s next – and possibly most difficult – task is to whittle that team down to just six for the end of season team championship at Halifax Bradley Hall on Sunday 11^th September. Sheffield will be seeking a fifth consecutive win, and once again are likely to be pushed all the way by York, in what promises to be an exciting finale to another excellent season of Inter District golf.

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