England win Girls' Home Internationals for fourth year in row

England scored a resounding 7½ -1½ victory over Ireland at Gullane, Scotland, to win the Girls' Home Internationals for the fourth year in a row.

The team were unbeaten throughout the event, having earlier halved with Wales and defeated the host country, Scotland.

Ireland, meanwhile, had won their first two matches and so both teams had all to play for in today's title decider.

England took charge early by winning all three morning foursomes and went on to dominate the singles, conceding just 1½ points from the six afternoon matches.

Pat Smillie, England's national junior coach, pointed to the team's foursomes play as a key factor in their win. They won 8½ out of a possible nine points and she said: "The quality of the foursomes play was excellent and it's reflected in a very cohesive, happy team

She went on: "The foursomes today was first class and the girls carried the momentum into the singles, where we saw some outstanding play."

Bronte Law, for example, had five birdies and was three-under par. Brogan Townend and Emily Taylor both scored big wins while Hayley Davis, playing her last match for England as a girl, also captured her singles point with a strong finish in her game. Hayley, 18, the English girls' champion, is competing in next week's British girls' championship - alongside most of the team - and soon after will fly to the USA to start university there.

In the day's other match Scotland beat Wales 6-3. Finals results: England 2½, Ireland 2, Scotland 1, Wales ½

The England team, captained by Chris Pascall (Hartlepool), was: Hayley Davis (Ferndown), Georgia Hall (Remedy Oak), Bronte Law (Bramhall), Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough), Elizabeth Mallett (Sutton Coldfield Ladies'), Alex Peters (Notts Ladies'), Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham & St Annes) and Brogan Townend (Pleasington).

Results

England 7½ Ireland 1½

Foursomes
Bronte Law & Emily Taylor beat Paula Grant & Jessica Carty 2&1
Hayley Davis & Georgia Hall beat Ariana Coyle Diez & Jean O'Driscoll  3&1
Alexandra Peters & Meghan MacLaren  beat Chloe Ryan & Sinead Sexton 2&1

Singles
Davis beat O'Driscoll 1 up
Law beat Carty 3&1
Hall halved with Grant
Brogan Townend beat Coyle Diez  6&5
Peters lost to Olivia Mehaffey 1 down
Taylor beat Ryan 7&5

Date