AS CAPTAIN Tim Wade had feared, the difference in handicaps eventually proved telling as Bradford fell to a 25-11 defeat against title challengers Sheffield in their latest Yorkshire Inter-District Union League match at Abbeydale.

However, the visitors did give the hosts some worrying moments and the final score flattered the steel-city side, with Bradford only falling away over the closing holes.

South Bradford's Jack Hall received his tie for playing six matches and this seemed to inspire him rather than daunt him as he gained 1½ points.

Playing with Martin Gaffney (Cleckheaton), they were one of only two Bradford pairs to win in the morning foursomes, defeating Jamie Harrison (Rotherham) and Richard Hodgkinson (Lindrick) by a hole to end their unbeaten record, Bingley St Ives duo Jack Laybourne and Terry Brushwood beating Matt Evans (Rotherham) and Jordan Perry (Phoenix) by the same margin.

Trailing 8-4 going into the afternoon, the handicaps (Sheffield were plus seven to Bradford's minus ten) really told over the latter stages of the singles.

Nevertheless, Brushwood was always in charge in his 3&2 victory over Ben Brewster (Bawtry), and Andrew Busfield (South Bradford) also played well to defeat Gary Fullwood (Wath upon Dearne).

The ones that got away were Dane Bairstow (Bingley St Ives), who halved with Evans after being two up after 12 via two eagles and three birdies; Mark Cook (Northcliffe), who was also two up after 12 but lost to Harrison on the last; and Rob Malloy (Northcliffe), who was four up on Hodgkinson after 12 and dormie one but had to settle for a half.

Hall also halved with Terry Field (Silkstone).

Wade said: "Had we been able to keep the momentum going as it was after 12 holes, we would have won but the Bradford president and myself were proud of the performance against a strong team who are determined to win the league."

Yorkshire Inter-District Union result – Sheffield 25, Bradford 11 (at Abbeydale): Foursomes (8-4): B Brewster & N Poppleton bt A Town & D Bairstow 6&4, M Evans & J Perry lost to T Brushwood & J Laybourne by 1 hole, J Cartlidge & N Stones bt R Hillas & M Cook 2&1, T Brind & G Fullwood bt C Howe & R Malloy 4&3, T Field & J Gibson bt J Darcy & A Busfield 3&1, J Harrison & R Hodgkinson lost to J Hall & M Gaffney by 2 holes. Singles (17-7): B Brewster lost to T Brushwood (Bingley St Ives) 3&2, N Appleton bt A Town (Bingley St Ives) 4&2, M Evans h/w D Bairstow (Bingley St Ives), J Perry bt R Hillas (Shipley) 3&2, T Brind bt J Laybourne (Bingley St Ives) by 2 holes, J Cartlidge bt C Howe (Northcliffe) 3&2, J Harrison bt M Cook (Northcliffe) by 1 hole, J Gibson bt J Darcy (Northcliffe) by 1 hole, G Fullwood lost to A Busfield (South Bradford) 4&2, T Field h/w J Hall (South Bradford), N Stones bt M Gaffney (Cleckheaton) 3&2, R Hodgkinson h/w R Malloy (Northcliffe).