HALIFAX-Huddersfield battled to share the 12 singles but lost out 22-14 at Driffield to an East Riding side that included English Strokeplay champion Steve Uzzell, who won both his matches before jetting off the next day to Moscow for the Russian Amateur.

The foursomes proved disastrous for Chris Mear’s men – they trailed 10-2 going into the singles with little hope of saving the day.

The Driffield course required players unacustomed to it to plot their way round with 3-woods and irons, with the driver being required only occasionally.

Top foursomes pairing of Richard Broadley and Iain Powell took on Uzzell and Andy Lockwood and their match was a close affair, the Halifax-Huddersfield pairing grabbing the lead and standing two up with six to play.

But a finish of two under par over the last six was enough for the home team to win on the last hole with a birdie.

Bradley Hall duo Andy Shaw and Jim Fairhurst steadily got on top against Michael Helyard and Rich Reynolds, eventually closing them out on the 16th, but that was the only good news of a disappointing morning with defeats for Sam Bridges and Frank Greaves, Ben Crowther and Edward Battye, Fraser Scholefield and Matthew Colcombe (who won his Union colours for a sixth appearance) and Jared Ellison and Andy Appleyard.

Though faced wth a mountain to climb in the singles, Mear’s sided buckled down and Union champion Broadley showed he was unfazed in his tough task tackling left-hander Uzzell.

The Fixby player made a gallant early run, winning the first two holes and hanging on to that lead through the front nine. International Uzzell, however, levelled on the 10th hole and was two up after 13 before losing the next to allow Broadley some daylight.

But Uzzell’s birdie on 16 and his solid par on 17 won it for the English champion while Iain Powell was grinding away in the second match before finally winning his points against Helyard on the 16th.

The next four matches in the order went the way of the East Riding with Andy Shaw, Fairhurst, Battye and Sam Bridges going down to leave the home side home and dry with 20 points in the bag.

As usual the Halifax-Huddersfield tail wagged with wins for Crowther, Greaves, Scholefield – he outshone Reynolds 6&5 – Colcombe and Appleyard with just one defeat, for Ellison.

Foursomes: S Uzzell & A Lockwood bt R Broadley & I Powell 1 hole; M Helyard & R Reynolds lost to A Shaw & J Fairhurst 3&2; M Daley & P Lockwood bt S Bridges & F Greaves 2&1; R Webster & L Nicholls bt B Crowther & E Battye 7&6; M Lill & D Raybould bt F Scholefield & M Colcombe 1 hole; J Lupton & L Adamson bt A Appleyard & J Ellison 4&2.

Singles: Uzzell (Hornsea) bt Broadley (Huddersfield) 3&1; Helyard (Hessle) lost to Powell (Hebden Bridge) 3&2; Lockwood (Hessle) bt Shaw (Bradley Hall) 2&1; Daley (Hainsworth Park) bt Fairhurst (Bradley Hall) 3&2; Lockwood (Hessle) bt Battye (Dewsbury) 4&2; Nicholls (Ganton) bt Bridges (West End) 3&2; Adamson (Ganton) lost to Crowther (Dewsbury) 1 hole; Reynolds (Beverley & ER) lost to Scholefield (Huddersfield) 6&5; Lill (Hull) lost to Greaves (West End) 2&1; Webster (Bridlington) lost to Colcombe (Longley Park) 2&1; Raybould (Scarborough SC) bt Ellison (Huddersfield) 4&2; Lupton (Driffield) lost to Appleyard (Halifax) 4&2.