Yorkshire golf: Horsforth and Scarthingwell all tied up once again in North Leeds 8 to 15 League

HORSFORTH and Scarthingwell could not be separated by three play-offs last season, so shared the North Leeds 8 to 15 League title.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Jun 2016, 20:34 BST
Updated 13th Jun 2016, 13:19 BST
The 8 to 15 Yorkshire champions, l-r, from Horsforth and Scarthingwell: Tony Button, Brian Wilton, Charlie Hurley, Dave Vickers, Billy Hayes, Phil Andrews, Mick Marshall, Dave Coates.The 8 to 15 Yorkshire champions, l-r, from Horsforth and Scarthingwell: Tony Button, Brian Wilton, Charlie Hurley, Dave Vickers, Billy Hayes, Phil Andrews, Mick Marshall, Dave Coates.
The 8 to 15 Yorkshire champions, l-r, from Horsforth and Scarthingwell: Tony Button, Brian Wilton, Charlie Hurley, Dave Vickers, Billy Hayes, Phil Andrews, Mick Marshall, Dave Coates.

They then joined forces to lift the Grand Yorkshire 8 to 15 Champions crown at Lindrick in April.And the sides could not be split again this week when Horsforth, current league leaders, went to face second-placed Scarthingwell on the latter's home turf.Horsforth captain Billy Hayes and Geoff Moss battled back from an early deficit against Dan Greenwood and Dave Henry in the final game to get a half that ensured another tied match between the sides.It meant Horsforth claimed partial bragging rights with a winning draw, but both he and Scarthingwell counterpart Tony Easton agreed it was exactly the sort of encounter for which the league has become renowned."A brilliant night of ultra-competitive golf played in the best spirit and followed by good food, friendly banter and great camaraderie. Exactly what the NLL is all about," said Eaton.Hayes concurred, commenting: "This was, as expected from two teams that could not be separated after three attempts at deciding the league champions last year, a humdinger of a game."First blood went to the home team when Kevin Morrall and Scott Hudson defeated visiting vice captain Steve Galbraith and John Hirst, the latter a last-minute stand-in, 4&3.Ian Hawkyard and Gavin Pickup produced a comeback win, as they had in the previous match against Moor Allerton, to defeat Brian Wilton and Eric Young 2&1.Lee Morrall and Tony Betton then halved with Dave Oldroyd and Nigel Whitaker to leave the match's outcome dependent on the final match-up."I don't think I have played in a more competitive and top quality game than the one myself and Geoff Moss encountered against man-mountain 'Digger' and his partner Dave," said Hayes."We were two down after five holes to a birdie and par with a shot, and couldn't see any weakness in their game."But then Geoff won the next hole with a par, I birdied to go all square and Geoff birdied the par-3 for us to go one up. "It was nip and tuck until Dave birdied the 13th for a win and 'Digger' parred the 14th with a shot for them to go one up. "Geoff stepped up to the plate again and birdied the 16th to go all square and lipped out on the 18th, but managed to secure the half. "So at the combined age of 131 we held our own against two mere youngsters with a combined age of about 76. "A cracking night's golf and played in a fantastic spirit. Come on the return at Horsforth."

Related topics:HorsforthNorth LeedsYorkshire