SHEFFIELD OFF TO A FLYER

With pleasant sunshine, nothing more than a breeze to contend with, and immaculate greens at Doncaster Golf Club, conditions couldn’t have been much better for golf on Sunday – and Sheffield’s Inter-District side capitalized with a highly impressive 26-10 win against the Bradford Union.
Captain Neil Stones gave YIDU league debuts to Luke Palmowski of Hickleton and Lindrick’s Sam Rook. Both made perfect starts, Palmowski teaming up with Matt Evans to take the first of the morning foursomes, 3&1 over Terry Brushwood and Andy Town. Rook partnered Worksop’s Kier Stockdale to a 5&3 win in the sixth game, and with only a rare misfire from Gary Fullwood and Tim Brind to lament in between, Sheffield stood 9-3 ahead at the break.

Nick Poppleton (Wath, above) led Sheffield off in the afternoon singles, and after recent trips to Lytham and Royal County Down the calm conditions made a refreshing change for him in his two-up win against Brushwood. Victories followed for Evans, Palmowski, Lewis Hollingworth and Jamie Harrison as Sheffield took the first five singles and secured the 19 points needed for a season opening success.
Yorkshire player Jack Lampkin, strengthening the Bradford side after a move from Ilkley (in the Harrogate Union) to Bracken Ghyll edged out Jordan Perry as the remaining games were evenly shared, the only halved game being the eleventh match between Rook, who last week qualified at Littlestone in Kent for this week’s Brabazon Trophy at Woodhall Spa, and Andy Busfield.
“Great start,” was Stones’s summary. “There were two strong teams today. We had four or five guys who are heading to the Brabazon this week, and it was great that they turned out and played for us today. Often it’s our strength in depth which sees us through, but the top order dominated this match and made it quite relaxing for those of us on the sidelines.”
It was a day of many birdies, and similar form will be required for the next game when York, winners 25-11 against Harrogate, visit Sitwell Park on June 11th. Recent seasons have seen the two sides scrapping for supremacy in Inter-District golf, and it promises to be both close and pivotal to the league season. For the moment, though, Sheffield can reflect on a very solid start to their season and move on in good spirits.

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