FRANK GREAVES, the Halifax, Huddersfield Union junior team supremo, is both confident and excited going into the first two games of the Yorkshire Inter-District Union Junior League.
“Normally by this time of year we have played two matches, but having put back our opening fixtures a month it has allowed us to get some golf under our belt and the weather a chance of being better,” he said, ahead of the match against Harrogate at Dewsbury on Sunday.
The junior versus senior match helped Greaves finalise the last three places in his team though he said it had been a close run thing on who to leave out but emphasised that the lads who didn’t make it will remain in the squad.
“We know we can beat the best,” says Greaves. “A number of the lads have had a great start to the season with many reducing their handicaps by a shot already and several having played in some rounds of the Yorkshire Union divisional team championships, “ he said.
“Jamie Bower has already played two matches for Yorkshire Under 16s and not lost in foursomes and singles; Adam Cryer is in good form and must take a lot of confidence from his visit to Brazil in the Faldo Series while Ben Adamson and Tom Goodair have had notable success in the county divisional team championship, with Ben collecting the best gross in the Division Seven qualifying competition a couple of weeks ago.”
Greaves’s team, who are keen to atone for last season’s defeat by Harrogate, are first at Ripon City but will have to be at their best as Harrogate demolished Teesside 30-6 in their opening match, though Teesside are short on quality.
East Riding are next up for Halifax, Huddersfield at Bradley Park on May 10. East Riding suffered heavily against Halifax, Huddersfield on home ground at Allerthorpe Park last term and have already this time gone under to champions Sheffield.
Halifax, Huddersfield: Jamie Bower (Meltham), Adam Cryer (Hebden Bridge), Joe Hill (Bradley Park), Tom Goodair (Hanging Heaton), Ben Adamson (Crow Nest Park), Nathan Scott (Crow Nest Park), Adam Walker (Longley Park), George Bamford (Hebden Bridge), Tom Calvert (Willow Valley), Stephen Pullen (Saddleworth), Ben Simpson (Saddleworth), Lewis Howell (Willow Valley). Reserves: Ethan Shaw (Marsden), Charles Ryan Hicks (Longley Park).
