CREDIT CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY
FROM COLIN FARQUHARSON
AT HILLSIDE GC, LANCS
England are Women's Home International champions for the first time since Dunbar Golf Club was the venue in 2007. And captain Chris Pascall's squad finished the job in style with an 8-1 victory over Ireland on a sunny last day at Hillside Golf Club, Lancashire.
England did not win a match at Whitchurch, Cardiff 12 months ago. This time round England won three out of three, having already beaten both Wales and Scotland by 6-3.
Wales finished runners-up with two wins to their credit by beating Scotland, the defending champions, 5-4. It was the Scots' third defeat of the week. Twelve months ago they won three out of three. This time round they finished last.
Scots skipper Fiona Norris reinstated the Briggs sisters, Megan and Eilidh, to the line-up for the final set of singles after leaving them out of two sessions of play.
They responded with two good wins. Megan beat Lucy Gould 4 and 2 while Eilidh was a 5 and 4 winner over Katherine O'Connor.
Wales' Amy Boulden beat international team-mate Pamela Pretswell by 5 and 4 in the lead-off singles. The Welsh player was two up on the Scot after five holes and increased her lead to three after eight and four with a birdie at the 10th
A half in birdie 3s ended the match at the 14th.
Kelsey MacDonald came back from two down after 12 to salvage a square match with Katie Bradbury. Kelsey birdied the 13th, 15th and 17th in her storming finish.
In a match between two teenagers, Scotland's Alyson McKechin halved with Wales' Chloe Williams who was two holes up after five. McKechin birdied the sixth and seventh to square the match.
Williams had regained a two-hole lead by winning three in a row from the 12th but the Scot won the 15th and 17th to gain half a point/
Welsh champion Becky Harries notched up her sixth win in six appearances by beating Scottish champion Louise Kenney 3 and 1 in the final tie to finish.
Harries was three up after five but Kenney got her back to one by winning the sixth with a birdie and the ninth.
Harries pulled away again by winning the 10th and 11th with a birdie. The 12th was halved in birdies and Kenney won the 13th to be two down with five to play. After three halves in a row from the 14th, Harries clinched a 3 and 1 victory by winning the 17th.
WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS
Hillside GC, Lancashire
Day 3
ENGLAND 8, IRELAND 1
WALES 5, SCOTLAND 4
FOURSOMES (2-1)
Amy Boulden and Becky Harries beat Pamela Pretswell and Alyson McKechin 3 and 2.
Chloe Williams and Katie Bradbury beat Jane Turner and Rebecca Wilson 6 and 4.
Katherine O'Connor and Lucy Gould lost to Louise Kenney and Kelsey MacDonald 1 hole.
SINGLES (3-3)
Boulden beat Pretswell 5 and 4.
Katie Bradbury halved with MacDonald
Williams halved with McKechin
Gould lost to Megan Briggs 4 and 2.
O'Connor lost to Eilidh Briggs 5 and 4.
Harries beat Kenney 3 and 1..
HOW THEY FINISHED
England 3 wins, Wales 2 wins, Ireland 1 win, Scotland 0 wins.
