THE Halifax, Huddersfield Union seniors went to Harrogate’s Starbeck Golf Club on the hottest day of the year for their latest Inter Union match – but it was the home side who were in scorching form as they claimed a 26-10 victory.

Two years ago Harrogate played the fixture on the same course and turned round a 9-3 deficit in the Foursomes to win 24-12, and the latest clash was a bit like deja vu, although on this occasion the home side were never headed.

For the visitors, Elland’s Nick Marsh made an impressive start on his debut, while Huddersfield’s former Matchplay champion Aaron Schnacke and Halifax’s Mark Birkett scored the most points, winning both their Foursomes and Singles matches. But once again the Union were well beaten and are still looking for their first win after three outings.

Marsh partnered Fixby’s Schnacke to a splendid 5&3 victory in the morning Foursomes, while in the final match out, Dewsbury’s Ben Crowther was teamed with Halifax’s Mark Birkett as they claimed a 5&4 win to reduce the morning deficit to 8-4.

But the afternoon turned into a bit of a procession as Harrogate won all of the first five singles, and it was not until Schnacke returned a comprehensive 6&5 win over Rudding Park’s John MacNamara that the rot was temporary halted.

Halifax West End’s Dave Stafford bagged another two points for the visitors with a 2&1 victory over Ben Sardo from Otley before Birkett claimed the last win of the day for the Halifax, Huddersfield side.

Longley Park’s Adam Walker and Willow Valley’s Tom Calvert both went close in their Singles before losing out by one hole, but that was as good as it got, with Harrogate taking the afternoon session 18-6.

Lead off man in the Singles was Matt Colcombe who never got going in the heat and was beaten 4&3, while Marsh came up against Harrogate’s best player on the day, Josh Bassitt, of Bedale, who was an incredible six-under-par when he beat the Elland man on the 15th!

Foursomes: (Harrogate names first): Josh Bassitt & Kevin Parker bt Tom Calvert & Iain Powell 4&2; Phil Kitching & Joe Buckley bt Matthew Colcombe & Adam Walker 2&1; John MacNamara & Jack Lampkin lost to Nick Marsh & Aaron Schnacke 5&3; Henry Taylor & Ben Sardo bt Adam Cryer & Dave Stafford 3&1;Tim Moorhouse & Neil Fegan bt Jamie Smith & Brad Tupman 5&4; Mark Bennison & Jack Backhouse lost to Ben Crowther & Mark Birkett 5&4.

Harrogate 8 Halifax, Huddersfield 4

Singles: P Kitching (Rudding Park) bt M Colcombe (Longley Park) 4&3; J Bassitt (Bedale) bt N Marsh (Elland) 5&4; K Parker (Rudding Park) bt A Walker (Longley Park) 1 hole; J Buckley (Harrogate) bt I Powell (Hebden Bridge) 3&2; J Lampkin (Ilkley) bt T Calvert (Willow Valley) 1 hole; J MacNamara (Rudding Park) lost to A Schnacke (Huddersfield) 6&5; H Taylor (Otley) bt A Cryer (Woodsome Hall) 2 holes; B Sardo (Otley) lost to D Stafford (West End) 2 & 1;T Moorhouse (Harrogate) bt J Smith (Halifax) 5&3; M Bennison (Knaresborough) bt B Tupman (Huddersfield) 3&1; N Fegan (Harrogate) lost to M Birkett (Halifax) 2&1; J Backhouse (Knaresborough) bt B Crowther (Dewsbury) 4&2.

Harrogate 18 Halifax, Huddersfield 6 Total: Harrogate 26 Halifax, Huddersfield 10.