England storm back to dethrone Ireland

IRELAND lost their Amateur Home International title at Hillside on the Lancashire coast yesterday when they lost 9½-5½ to England.

They will now need to beat Scotland in their final game of the round-robin series to have any chance of avoiding the wooden spoon.

Yesterday, Ireland were in a strong position when they established a two point foursomes advantage and midway through the afternoon the position appeared rosy.

Then England came storming back to demolish the champions.

Irish captain Kevin Flanagan who has not enjoyed the best year at the helm was naturally disappointed.

“At one time things looked good but then they piled on the pressure and we fell away badly,” said Flanagan.

l DANIELLE MCVEIGH kept alive her hopes of a quick-fire double despite faltering slightly in the second round of the European Ladies Amateur title over the Falsterbo course in Sweden. Just six days after capturing the British Ladies Open crown at Aberdeen, the 21-year-old Vagliano Trophy player from Royal County Down posted a four over par 75 for a 36-hole total of 145.

She goes into the third round this morning in fourth place three strokes behind new leader Pamela Prestwell, the Scottish international and one adrift of France’s Lucuie Andre and Swede carline Hedwall.

The other Irish competitors Charlene Reid, Sarah Cunningham and Aedin Murphy all struggled, Reid returning a 79 for 159,Cunningham 84 for 162 and Murphy 84 for 167.

Meanwhile, in the Total International Girls U-21 championship Woodenbridge’s Louise Mernagh posted a second successive 76 for 152 to be 11th equal and Louise Coffey of Warrenpoint a second 77 for 154 for a share of 17th place.

Leading the way is Italian Marianna Causin on level par 144.