Britain and Ireland in control as Continentals fail to shine

HOLDERS Britain and Ireland carry a virtually unassailable lead into the final round of the Jacques Leglise Trophy t Lahinch today after defeating Continent of Europe 9½ to 2½ on the opening day of foursomes and singles matchplay.

The home boys (U18) produced tremendous form to take the foursomes 3-1 and they continued the good work in the singles, when German Stephan Gross was the only winner for the Continental side.

Britain and Ireland had afternoon winners in Rhys Davies, Cian McNamara, Gareth Shaw, Tommy Hunter, Lloyd Saltman and Paul Waring while Wallace Booth came away with a half.

The home team got off to a great start by taking the morning foursomes 3/1 with three of the matches decided out the country.

And, in the fourth, Cian McNamara from Limerick and England's Ted Hunter gained a vital point in an absorbing tie that went all the way to the last hole.

McNamara and Hunter trailed by one after six; they were level at halfway; they edged ahead when the Limerick star hit a wood to 10 feet at 13, setting up a birdie, but it was level pegging again after 15, which the home pair played poorly.

Hunter's super five iron to 12 feet gave the GB and Irish boys an easy half at 16 and they went one clear again at 17 when the opposition an Italian/French combination of Del Podio and Lorenzo Vera were in trouble off the tee, leaving them to concede a six-foot birdie putt after McNamara had split the fairway with a massive drive.

With a halved match now secure, there was a scare for home followers when McNamara bunkered his second to the par-five last but partner Hunter splashed out brilliantly to three feet and the Limerick boy applied the finishing touch for a one-hole triumph.

Victory also for Aaron O'Callaghan of Douglas and his Scottish partner Lloyd Saltman who ended their contest with Italians Gagli and Colombo at the 15th. A solid start saw the home pair win two of the first three holes O'Callaghan's massive drive setting up a birdie at the third.

The Continentals trailed by just one when they birdied the seventh but O'Callaghan and Saltman struck crucial blows by taking the eighth and ninth and, continuing to play great golf, they ended the tie at the 15th when the Scot his a majestic three iron from 212 yards to the centre of the green for another win. Gareth Shaw from Lurgan, the third Irish player on duty and his English partner Paul Waring had a ran into a baptism of fire against the German/Belgian partnership of Gross and Relecom, who covered the opening nine in 33 shots and closed out the match with a four-hole advantage at the turn.