Halifax Juniors Make Final

After a long, hard season the Halifax Junior team have made it through to the final of the HHDUGC Junior League Championship after battling their way through the end of season play-offs.

The Ogden club finished 2nd in Division B - only 1 point behind winners Woodsome Hall - and equal on points with Willow Valley although they had a better margin of wins. The top four clubs from each division progressed to the knock-out stages.

The quarter-finals were played at Lightcliffe which has not been a good scoring ground for Halifax in the past with only one point from the last two matches played there against Lightcliffe.

The team consisting of Jamie Smith (5), Nick Bennett's (11), Adam Curry (16) and the young Liam Dean (18) - who was filling in for the injured Oliver Davidson (9) - took on Longley Park in the last eight contest. The first three lads took early leads over the opening holes whilst back-marker Dean (pictured above) got over early nerves but some great golf from his opponent meant that the youngster was trailing by five through the first seven holes.

First to tie up his match was Curry winning 7&5 and continuing a fine performance this year, only losing one match and scoring a half and eight wins out of 10 matches - quite a performance!Smith then finished his match off on the 17th winning 2&1, followed by Bennett's match on the same hole with the same score of 2&1.

Knowing the team was into the semi-finals the rest of the team got behind Dean to give him a well timed boost. Liam had remarkably turned his match around and was stood on the last tee one-up. The Longley Park Junior was not to be put off though and played some great shots into the 18th to win the hole and take a half from a match.

Halifax knew they were to play the winners of Meltham and local rivals Crow Nest in the semi's. That match was fairly close with the deciding match going to the 18th. Only needing a half the Meltham player matched the shots of Lightcliffe Tankard winner, Ben Adamson, and secured the half that gave a 5-3 win to set up a contest against Halifax Juniors.

The other half of the draw saw Woodsome Hall Juniors take on Huddersfield Juniors with Fixby playing three girls in their team. However, the quality of the Woodsome Juniors came through to show why they finished top of Division B as they won 5-3. The other game was between current Champions Willow Valley Juniors and Crossland Heath Juniors. Willow Valley juniors were not going to surrender their title easily coming away with a 6-2 win to reach the semi's against Woodsome Hall.

Semi-Finals:

Willow Valley set off against Woodsome Hall in the first semi followed by Halifax against Meltham. After nine holes all the matches between Halifax and Meltham were all one up in favour of the Ogden players. Once again the young Liam Dean, after being two down for most of the front nine turned in a solid performance to win four holes on the bounce with some great putting to eventually win 4&3 and give Halifax their first points of the contest.

The ever impressive Jamie Smith sealed another victory on the 16th winning 3&2. After letting slip a three hole lead early on in his round he turned it around on the back nine to cap a fine days work and a great performance of never being down at any point in his two matches.

Nick Bennett's went to the 17th tee two up with two to play giving Halifax the point that sealed their place in the Final. A great half down the 17th capped another fine performance winning 2&1 and then closely followed by Adam Curry with the same result giving Halifax Junior's a great 8-0 win.

The other Semi was a closely fought match with the decider going to the 18th and a win for Willow Valley 5-3 to set up a final date with Halifax on the 19th of September at Huddersfield Golf Club.

Halifax Junior Organiser Darren Davison was full of praise for all his team including the injured Oliver Davidson who followed the lads around all day along with junior helper Steve Smith. Davison said, "All the lads did remarkably well and we are all proud of their efforts especially Liam who has only played one match prior to the semi so was thrown in at the deep end but held his nerve well."