SCOTLAND BEAT IRELAND TO LIFT HOME INTERNATIONALS TITLE
Scotland regained the Home Internationals title when they
beat Ireland 10-5 to win the Raymond Trophy at Royal St George’s,
Sandwich.
They pipped England, 9.5 - 5.5 winners over Wales, on points
won after both countries finished with two victories, the
Scots collecting 26.5 to England’s 21.5. Wales finished
third and Ireland fourth.
It is only the third time in 20 years that Scotland have
won the title and it followed a similar story last year when
England edged out the Scots.
“I’m delighted,” said Scottish skipper
George Crawford. “It was a tough afternoon and I think
the match was much closer than the score suggests. At one
stage it looked as if things were slipping away. But the players
showed their resolved to come back and win well.”
England captain Cecil Bloice was happier with his side’s
performance but disappointed with the final outcome. “Our
character shone through today but I’m disappointed that
we finished second,” he said. “However, we came
here with six players new to the Home Internationals and they
will be better players for the experience."
The Scots went into the day knowing they had the advantage
after hammering England 11.5 - 3.5 yesterday. They made the
best of starts by taking the foursomes 4-1 but the Irish made
it difficult to get to the finishing line. At one stage the
Scots were comfortably up in five matches and seemingly home
and dry. But within half an hour the situation was reversed
and everything was back in the balance.
However, Lloyd Saltman birdied the last to snatch a half
against Amateur champion Brian McElhinney, while Eric Ramsay
staged a late fight back to edge out young Rory McIlroy. Scotland
also came good in the later matches to give the scoreline
a somewhat lop-sided look.
After their hammering from Scotland yesterday, England not
only needed to beat Wales but to win well and they did just
that.
Sharing the morning foursomes equally didn’t help the
cause but the singles proved a different story although prospects
didn’t look good when Robert Dinwiddie was beaten 6
and 5 by Rhys Davies in the top match.
However, Steve Tiley, Jamie Moul and Paul Waring set the
tone with clearcut victories and were backed by James Ruth
and Matthew Cryer, while Gary Wolstenholme and Ed Richardson
secured valuable halves.
Moul and Waring were particularly impressive. Moul opened
with two winning birdies and was always in control on his
way to a 4 and 3 success over Ryan Thomas, but Waring was
even more impressive in his match with Cennydd Mills. The
English champion also opened with winning birdies and added
three more to be out in 31 and five up. It was a match he
was not going to lose and he wrapped it up 6 and 4 on the
14th green.
Oliver Fisher, who went into his match with Tim Dykes without
a win but with four halved matches, was two down with four
to play but won on the 18th as the Welshman faltered over
the closing stretch.
The 18th hasn’t been kind to James Crampton this week
and it tripped him up again today. One down coming down the
last, he looked like salvaging a half when his opponent, Craig
Smith saw him approach finish through the green and inches
from the out of bounds. However, Crampton, who had driven
into a bunker, shanked his second but fired his third to 12
feet.
Smith, meanwhile, had to stand out of bounds and chip through
the wire fence (pictured) but managed to secure a half and
the match when Crampton’s putt rolled wide of the cup.
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