SCOTLAND SENIORS LOSE 6-3 TO ENGLAND AT WOODHALL SPA

FROM THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Old rivals Ireland and England will decide the destination of the Senior Home Internationals title at Woodhall Spa tomorrow after the Irish completed a comprehensive victory over Wales, while England dug deep to overcome Scotland.
It is a repeat of last year’s final of the European Seniors Team Championship at Fairhaven when England overcame the odds to lift the title when the Irish were firm favourites.
This time Ireland will be seeking a fourth successive title, while England is looking for their first success since 2007 at Caldy, the last occasion they were hosts.
Reflecting that tomorrow will be a repeat of last year’s European final, England captain Richard Palmer said: “It would be lovely to think the result might be the same. But the Irish are incredible strong, the strongest in European in my opinion, but we have proved we can beat them.”
With the Irish having already completed a 7-2 victory over Wales, for most of the afternoon Scotland seemed set to follow suit against an off-colour England outfit.
Starting 1-2 down from the foursomes, they were boosted by an 8 and 6 victory by the reliable Roy Smethurst over David Miller, the Crewe man hitting every fairway, missing just one green and being an approximate three under par at the end.
Then Alan Squires added to England’s tally by coming back from 2-down with five to play against Ian Brotherston by winning the last four holes played.
But with Adrian Donkersley losing 4 and 3 to Fraser McCluskey and the three other matches in contention, you would have got long odds on an England win.
Yet, Andrew Stracey overcame a late wobble to beat Robert Stewart 2 and 1, while Charlie Banks was involved in a battle royal with Scotland’s John Fraser.
The Scot was 2-up with six to play but Banks birdied 13 and 14 to go all-square and they came to the last still level. Both faced birdie putts but after Fraser’s ten foot effort rimmed the cup, Banks sank his for another birdie to win.
That saw England over the line but in the final game Chris Reynolds performed another rescue act, coming from 2-down after four holes to beat Gordon MacDonald 3 and 1, thanks to birdies on the 15th and 17th holes.
After completing a clean sweep in the three morning foursomes, Ireland were not going to loosen their grip and significant wins from Hugh Smyth and Garth McGimpsey ensured a second successive victory.
“That was a good win,” said Irish captain Barry Doyle. “We set the foundation by winning all three foursomes which always makes life easier when you do that.
“However we got off to a slow start in the singles but improved as the afternoon progressed. A fourth successive title sounds nice but we’ve got to play the old enemy, England, on their own stamping ground which won’t be easy.”
With a 3-0 lead from the morning and needing just two more wins from the six singles, the Irish were seen home by Smyth and McGimpsey.
Despite losing the first hole against Welsh captain Phil Jones, Smyth won the next five to be 4-up through six and he continued to apply the pressure, winning the ninth and 12th for a 7 and 6 victory.
So it was left to McGimpsey, the former Walker Cup player and captain, to seal Ireland’s success by beating Robert Broad 4 and 3, McGimpsey taking the lead on the second and gradually increasing it until the end came on the 15th green.
Even then the Irish didn’t relax. Although Jeff Thomas gave Wales their first point with a 2 and 1 win over Arthur Pierse in the top match, Maurice Kelly overcame an early deficit to beat Keith Stimpson 5 and 4, while Michael Coote gradually gained momentum to ease to a 3 and 2 win over Nigel Evans.
In the other single, Paul Bloomfield found himself 4-up after six holes against Adrian Morrow only to be pegged back to one after 12. But the Welshman maintained that advantage to complete a one hole victory and subjecting Morrow to his first defeat of the week.

RESULTS
Day 1
IRELAND 5, SCOTLAND 4
ENGLAND 5, WALES 4
Day 2
IRELAND 7, WALES 2
ENGLAND 6, SCOTLAND 3