HOME INTERNATIONALS DAY ONE

SCOTLAND BEAT IRELAND 8-7 WHILE ENGLAND BOUNCE BACK TO BEAT WALES 8 1/2-6 1/2

Scotland started their defence of the Raymond Trophy with an 8-7 win over Ireland at Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club in South Wales.
England rallied from a 3-2 lunchtime foursomes deficit to beat Wales 8 1/2-6 1/2.
The Scots and Irish shared the morning foursomes 2 1/2 pt apiece with neither of the top pairings winning. Lloyd Saltman and George Murray lost by 4 and 3 to McIlroy and Caldwell who were three up at the turn.
Richie Ramsay and Scott Jamieson halved with teenager Kearney and O'Callaghan who were two down at the turn.
In the singles, Saltman still not get a victory. Mind you he was playing the brilliant young Rory McIlroy. A square game was certainly better than a defeat.
The 7 and 6 win by Paul O'Hara (pictured right) over Kearney long before any other ties had finished gave the Scots a big boost because it put them a point ahead.
Ramsay, two up aftere six, was held to a square game by Doran.
Glenn Campbell, one down after 12, kept fighting to win on the 18th green against Ward.
Scott Jamieson, one down at the turn, lost by 3 and 2 to Shaw.
New champion and home internationals debutant Kevin McAlpine came back from one down after 12 to beat Caldwell by two holes.
The experienced Jonathan King was surprisingly given a 6 and 5 pasting by Murray while Scott Henry, still searching to recapture the form that won him the Scottish open stroke-play title in mid-summer, went down by two holes to Lowie.
Cack-handed John Gallagher, three up after six, let it self at bit and finally was held to a square game by Crowe.
But George Murray played his anchor role to perfection for Scotland, delivering a 5 and 4 win after winning two of the first three holes from O'Callaghan.
So the Scots won the singles 5 1/2-4 1/2. Now they play Wales who must have enjoyed their lunch after taking the foursomes 3-2 from the confident English.
The Welsh increased their advantage with good results in the top four singles, two wins and a halved match, but England's greater strength in depth turned the tide their way.
Wins by Moul, Parker, Lewton and Waring while Gee and Richardson got half points each enabled England to turn the tables by winning the singles 6 1/2-3 1/2.
FIRST-DAY DETAILS

SCOTLAND 8, IRELAND 7
Foursomes: Scotland 2 1/2, Ireland 2 1/2 (scroll down for the details).
Singles: Scotland 5 1/2, Ireland 4 1/2
Saltman halved with McIlroy.
FRamsay halved with Doran.
Campbell bt Ward 1 ho.e
O'Hara bt Kearney 7 and 6.
Jamieson lost to Shaw 3 and 2.
McAlpine bt Caldwell 2 holes.
King lost to Murray 6 and 5.
Henry lost to Lowry 2 holes.
Gallagher halved with Crowe.
Murray bt O'Callaghan 5 and 4.

ENGLAND 8 1/2, WALES 6 1/2
Foursomes: England 2, Wales 3
Parker, Fisher lost to Davies, Gould 1 hole.
Lewton, McGowan lost to Evans, Matthews 2 holes.
Moul, Wolstenholme bt Edwards, Thomas 4 and 3.
Boyd, Waring bt Cousins, Mills 2 and 1.
Richardson, gee lost to Dykes, Westgate 3 and 2.
Singles: England 6 1/2, Wales 3 1`/2
Dinwiddie halved with Matthews.
Fisher bt Davies 5 and 4.
McGowan lost to Edwards 1 hole.
Wolstenholme lost to Mills 2 and 1.
Mould bt Cousins 3 and 2.
Parker bt Gould 3 and 1.
Lewton bt Enoch 2 and 1.
Waring bt Thomas 5 and 4.
Gee halved with Evans.
Richardson halved with Dykes.

THURSDAY'S MATCHES
Scotland v Wales
England v Ireland.