Scotland are Runners - Up in the Home Internationals

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Scotland regained their pride and their fighting spirit to finish runners-up to Stroyan Cup winners England on the last day of the girls’ home international golf matches at sunny Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancashire.
The Scots came from 2pt in arrears to snatch a 4 ½-4 ½ draw with Wales and so win the Swansea Spoon for finishing second.
"I'm thrilled to bits with the way Scotland played. England were the only team to beat us and we all agree they are different class this year," said Scotland captain Margaret MacNaughtan. "As we did against Ireland on the first day, we rallied from what could have been a losing position in the singles. Great stuff. I've enjoyed every minute of being here in Lancashire with the girls."
Kevin Craggs, the SLGA coach said," It was a good all-round performance. You have to remember most of the Scotland girls were new to international golf and it was a young team."
England were given their toughest match of the series by Ireland before beating them 6 ½-2 ½. LISA AND ALEXANDRA THE MVPs
The “Most Valuable Players” of the week were Ireland’s 14-year-old Lisa Maguire and England’s Alexandra Peters. Both won five times and lost one in their six outings.
Scotland’s top points achievers were Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), both with 4pt out of six. Ironically, both lost their final ties against Wales.
After the Wales v Scotland foursomes were shared 1 ½-1 ½, Wales claimed victory in the first two singles to finish. Amy Boulden beat Eilidh Briggs by 3 and 1 and Gemma Bradbury beat Rachael Watton 4 and 3.
The Scots’ rally began with a one-hole win by Alyson McKechin over Kelly Miller.
McKechin staged a grandstand finish to win both the 17th and the 18th for a one-hole victory.
Sammy Leslie’s 3 and 1 win for Scotland over Chloe Williams levelled the overall scoreline at 3 ½ pt each.
Katie Bradbury put Wales back in front by beating Rachael Taylor by one hole.
Scotland, trailing by one with one tie to finish, got the levelling point with a 2 and 1 win by their champion from Peebles, Ailsa Bain, over Natasha Gobey. Bain was never behind in a match in which she was three up after nine holes

GIRLS HOME INTERNATIONALS
Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancashire
DAY3

WALES 4 ½, SCOTLAND 4 1/2

Foursomes: Chelsey Herbert & Katie Bradbury halved with Ailsa Bain & Rachael Taylor; Amy Boulden & Gemma Bradbury lost to Eilidh Briggs & Rachael Watton 3 and 2; Natasha Gobey & Chloe Williams bt Alyson McKechin & Sammy Leslie 1 hole (1 ½-1 ½).
Singles: Boulden beat Briggs 3 and 1, Kelly Miller lost to McKechin 1 hole, Gemma Bradbury bt Watton 4 and 3, Katie Bradbury bt Taylor 1 hole, Williams lost to Leslie 3 and 1, Gobey lost to Bain 2 and 1 (3-3).

ENGLAND 6 ½, IRELAND 2 1/2.
Foursomes: Heidi Beck & Kelly Tidy lost to Leona Maguire & Lisa Maguire 3 and 2;
Hannah Turland & Hayley Davis halved with Laura McCarthy & Emma O’Driscoll;
Holly Clyburn & Alexandra Peters bt Carla Reynolds & Patrice Delaney 2 and 1 (1 ½-1 ½).
Singles: Clyburn lost to Lisa Maguire 1 hole, Peters bt Delaney 4 and 2, Turland bt Reynolds 1 hole, Nikki Foster bt O’Driscoll 3 and 2, Davis bt McCarthy 3 and 2, Lauren Taylor bt Leona Maguire 2 and 1 (5-1).

HOW THEY FINISHED
England 3pt, Scotland 1 1/2pt, Ireland 1pt, Wales ½ pt.