THE Halifax, Huddersfield Union team recorded a brilliant first victory of the season over the Leeds Union when Halifax West End hosted the latest Inter-District clash.

With two defeats and a draw against their name, the home Union were keen to get a win under their belts, and they achieved that in emphatic style with a 29-7 victory – their first over the Leeds Union since 2005.

It began very promisingly in the morning Foursomes with lead-off pair Matthew Colcombe and Nick Marsh setting the standard with a tremendous 4&2 win over former county champions David Appleyard and Richard Law, and the Halifax, Huddersfield side continued in the same vein with convincing wins for Iain Powell and Andy Shaw by a 6&5 margin, followed by an equally dominant victory for Chris Ingham and Steve Martin who won 5&3.

Brad Tupman and Frank Greaves made it four out of four before Aaron Schnacke continued his good run this season, partnering Ben Adamson to a 6&4 victory as the hosts took a 10-2 lead into the lunch interval.

Team manager Chris Mear rightly reminded his side they had been in a similar position before against Leeds and not taken advantage, and therefore took the decision to pack the middle of his Singles order (5 to 8) with home players as a safety measure.

But he needn’t have worried as Colcombe, Marsh and Schnacke were all in magnificent form, the top two both winning 2&1 against very strong opponents, while Schnacke hammered his opponent 6 & 4 to consolidate Halifax, Huddersfield’s strong position.

All four West End players, Chris Ingham, Frank Greaves, Steve Martin and Dave Stafford then did exactly what they were brought in to do, with solid victories to seal the match.

Powell and Mark Birkett completed the rout, while Adamson battled hard for a half to give Halifax, Huddersfield a 19-5 victory in the Singles which now lifts the team off the foot of the table.

The Union now have a short break until they take on the York Union at Easingwold, on August 7.

Scores:

Foursomes: Matthew Colcombe & Nick Marsh bt David Appleyard & Richard Law 4&2; Iain Powell & Andy Shaw bt Simon Coombe & Scott Douglas 6 & 5; Chris Ingham & Steve Martin bt Darren Walton & Alex Webster 5&3; Brad Tupman & Frank Greaves bt Kavan Smith & CK Moffat 2&1; Aaron Schnacke & Ben Adamson bt Matt Brighton & Mark Griffiths 6&4; Mark Birkett & Dave Stafford lost to Neil Kinghorn & Andy Stringer 3&2.

Foursome: Halifax, Huddersfield 10 Leeds 2.

Singles: Colcombe (Longley Park) bt Law (Low Laithes) 2&1; Marsh (Elland) bt Appleyard (South Leeds) 2&1; Schnacke (Huddersfield) bt Coombe (Pontefract) 6&4; Shaw (Huddersfield) lost to Walton (Wakefield); Ingham (Halifax West End) bt Douglas (Wakefield) 3&1; Martin (West End) bt Smith (Selby) 5&4; Greaves (West End) bt Webster (Moor Allerton) 3&1; Stafford (West End) bt Brighton (Wakefield) 2 holes; Powell (Hebden Bridge) bt Griffiths (Normanton) 1 hole; Tupman (Huddersfield) lost to Stringer (Wakefield) 3&2; Birkett (Halifax) bt Kinghorn (Wakefield) 2 holes; Adamson (Crow Nest Park) halved with Moffat.

Singles: Halifax, Huddersfield 19 Leeds 5.

Total points: Halifax, Huddersfield 29 Leeds 7.

AARON SCHNACKE’S two victories has given him a clear lead at the top of the Order of Merit sponsored by Parnell Reilly.

The Huddersfield man has now accrued 27 points from his four outings, eight ahead of Dave Stafford from West End with Longley Park’s Matt Colcombe back in third on 17.