Storm blows strong Irish challenge off course

Ireland returned to the Glasgow Gailes Links on the Ayrshire coast at the crack of dawn to complete their battle with Scotland in the Men’s Home Internationals after rain halted play last night.

The storms arrived in late afternoon and became so bad just after six o’clock that play was suspended and an hour later it was called off for the day with five games to finish.

Ireland trailed the Scots 5½-4½ but the Irish have very much the upper hand in the incomplete games, being ahead in four of them and level in the other so are favourites to progress to a meeting with Wales who lost 9½-5½ to defending champions England.