England beat European champions Ireland on Day 1 at Crowborough England beat European champions, Ireland, in a thriller on the first day of the Senior Men’s Home Internationals at Crowborough Beacon in Sussex. They were pulled through 4-3 by David Niven who turned his match around by winning five holes in a row and then holed a 40ft birdie putt on the last to snatch the crucial point. “It was a great fightback and a fantastic start,” said England team captain Roy Smethurst. “It couldn’t have been closer and we have always struggled against Ireland, so we are absolutely delighted to win.” The first day’s matches were decided by seven singles, instead of the usual combination of three foursomes and six singles, after heavy rain flooded the course and delayed play by over four hours. When the golf got underway it was Ireland who played their way to a narrow advantage.  Both teams, who started on the 10th, had three wins apiece and Ireland’s Denis Deasy was leading England’s Niven in the deciding game. But Niven won the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th to get back to all square and then won the 7th to move one ahead.  Deasy came straight back with a birdie on the 8th to square matters, but Niven’s answer was to hole a 40-footer for a winning birdie on the last to secure the point.  Niven (right) is pictured top with team-mate Richard Partridge (image © Leaderboard Photography). England’s other points were scored by Richard Partridge (5 and 4), Stephen East (5 and 3) and Mark Stones who holed his second shot on the par five 14th for an albatross. It put him two up and he maintained his lead throughout the match, eventually winning 3 and 2. Tomorrow England will play Wales while Scotland play Ireland. The England team is: Ian Attoe (Worplesdon), Stephen East (Moortown), Clive Jones (Toulouse), Alan Mew (Stoneham), David Niven (Newbury & Crookham), Richard Partridge (Wildernesse), Mark Stones (Boyce Hill). Click here for full scores. Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193