BRADFORD Golf Union overcame a missing player and mid-game deficits to record a fine win on Teesside, prevailing 22-14 on the opening day of the Yorkshire Inter-District Union Golf League season.

West Bradford Golf Club's Dane Bairstow was unable to play in the fixture at Seaton Carew Golf Club, meaning that the away side conceded four points before the match had teed off.

Three foursomes wins and six singles victories saw Union home in a tight contest though, and captain Martin Gaffney was delighted with the way that Darren Rands and Andrew Busfield, in particular, handled the extreme pressure in their matches.

The two played together in the foursomes before they tackled tough singles matches. All three games involving the players were won by a single hole.

Gaffney said: "In Andrew's singles he was two down with three to go before turning it right round and I was watching Darren finish.

"It looked like he was going to lose 17, he was in all sorts of trouble but played a fantastic recovery shot. He knocked it to a foot from about 70 yards out of the rough and salvaged a half, which took him to the last still one up.

"They were both in good spirits and the team as a whole battled well."

Gaffney knows that the team contains a spectacular teenage talent in Ben Rhodes, and he won both of his games on Teesside. The Union captain believes the youngster lacks confidence though.

He said: "He needs to believe in himself a little more. The following day, he won the Sir Norman Rae Classic at Northcliffe by six shots, which is a Yorkshire Order of Merit event.

"If he believes in himself, he can go on and win a lot this year."

Gaffney had spoken about the importance of Bradford winning their opener as preparation for their next game against a strong Sheffield side and he was pleased with Sunday's performance.

He said: "It was good that players stood in, like James Meredith on his debut, and he had a good result. The win just gives us confidence going to Sheffield which will be a much tougher task."