North stars wrap up Salver success
North Cliff claimed the East Riding & District of York Alliance President’s Salver at Selby. Cliff’s current strength in depth and consistency of performance once again reaped its reward when they added yet another trophy to their haul for the 2014/15 alliance season.
Cliff, who already had the Alliance’s Hull Daily Mail Challenge Bowl, the Scarborough & District Pennant Trophy and the Flamborough & District Rabbits Alliance League title safely housed in their trophy cabinet were again in imperious form.
The North Cliff stars were led by club professional Fraser Kelley partnered by David Butterfield (6) on 63 and ably supported by Simon Boddy (1) and Dave Ellard (7) and Steve Pybus (1) and Alan Richardson (8) both carding 64s their combined team total of 191 was a tremendous 22-under-par.
This total was never threatened and it became a question of who would finish second.
Five clubs, Hull, Hessle, Hornsea, Sutton Park and Heworth were all in with a shout of the runner-up slot but it was Hull, who owed much to an equal best score of the day of 62 from James Ratcliffe (2) and Gary Pepper (5) coupled with two 67s, who edged home on a total of 196, 17-under-par two ahead of Hessle and Hornsea.
Ratcliffe and Pepper claimed the tankards for the low betterball medal round after seeing off the challenge of two other 62s, after a countback, to edge out Driffield club captain Paul Berriman (10) and Ted Grantham (12) and Hessle’s assistant professional Paul Lockwood and partner Brian Calam (12).
Speaking after accepting the President’s Salver from Selby captain Graham Cracknell, Cliff team manager Alan Richardson said: “For all of our three pairs to return scores in the top 10 on the day was very special as was a five-shot victory in a team competition that is always hotly contested.
“Selby’s course is in excellent condition and is a credit to the green staff.
“Winning the salver rounds off a highly successful winter for our club.”
The final event of the Alliance season, the Championship and the Fairhurst Trophy is held at North Cliff on Wednesday April 8.