STRENGTH in depth finally told, but only after Halifax, Huddersfield gave Sheffield a scare in their latest Yorkshire Inter-Union League golf match.

The visitors to Hallamshire dominated the top singles, but the hosts finally ran out 23-13 winners to maintain their challenge to League leaders Teesside.

Chris Hanson and Richard Oddy toppled the top two of Sheffield, Yorkshire order of merit champion Steve Brennan and former county champion Sean Tarplett, in the first foursomes.

But other than Andy Shaw and Toby Garrett halving with David Needham and Warren Powell, it was a lone success which left Andy Whitworth's men trailing 9-3 going into the singles.

It could have been different, for two of the foursomes were decided on the last green in Sheffield's favour.

Richard Broadley earned a good half with Sheffield captain Martin Haddock in the lead-off singles match and Hanson shared his with county player Andy Bradley - and both could have brought winning points for Halifax, Huddersfield.

Union champion Broadley was two up after 12 and one up with three to play, and on the 16th he hit his approach to five feet with Haddock 45 feet away in two.

But the experienced Sheffield man holed his long putt while Broadley missed and the last two holes were halved.

Hanson, who stood three up on his man at one stage, drove into the gorse at the 11th, which forced a penalty drop and loss of the hole to Bradley's par, and he followed with a drive into thick rough at the 13th and ended up losing that.

Hanson lost the short 17th to a birdie then hit two superb shots to the par five last to make an eagle and save a point.

When Graham McLean saw off Tarplett and Richard Oddy repeated his win against Brennan there was hope for Halifax, Huddersfield.

Sean Needham was ending his match against Martin Cockroft on the 16th, however, and

though Ian Powell overcame teenager James Smart and Shaw beat Warren Powell, the rest of the way belonged to Sheffield as they picked up six wins to stay level on points with Teesside.

The margin did not fully reflect the match.

"It was disappointing after some good performances and it could have been closer, but when you are down 9-3 to Sheffield it's always going to take some clawing back," said Whitworth.

Teesside retained their slim `goal difference' lead as they scored a similar 23-13 win over York.

Bradford crushed East Riding 33-3 and Leeds romped in 31-5 against Harrogate.