YORK Union were cut to size by Sheffield steel in their first home Yorkshire Inter-District League fixture of the season, writes Max Benson.

The tie, hosted by Scarthingwell GC, finished 27-9 in favour of Sheffield, whose ranks featured players on scratch handicap or better. The visitors won the singles 20-4 and the foursomes 7-5.

There was a promising start in the morning foursomes for York with Pike Hills' Martin Brown and Alistair Smith (Heworth) beating their South Yorkshire counterparts by one hole. James Hudson (Pike Hills) and Iain Simpson (Fulford) also collected two points from their 4 and 3 conquest of Sam Haywood and Adam Hodkinson.

Scarthingwell's Chris Watson made a welcome return to the York ranks and finished one-up in his singles match after squaring his foursomes tie in partnership with The Oaks' teenager Tom Parry. But there was little other success in the singles, although Adrian Lount (Pike Hills) and Jim Batt (Heworth) both halved their respective matches.

YORK UNION MEN: From left: Mike Thompson (secretary), Tom Parry, Adrian Lount, Phil Dobson, Chris Watson, John Wright (president), Ian Simpson, Neil Thompson (captain), John Taylor (past president), James Hudson, Martin Brown, Steve Lockwood, Jim Batt, Alistair Smith, Stuart Parkin

Updated: 11:00 Saturday, June 18, 2005