DAY 2 RESULTS FROM BOYS' HOME INTERNATIONALS
AT ROYAL COUNTY DOWN GC, NORTHERN IRELAND.
England 10, Scotland 5 (foursomes 4 1/2-1/2, singles 5 1/2-4 1/2).
Ireland 10, Wales 5 (foursomes 3-2, singles, 7-3).
FROM THE R&A WEBSITE:
The rain might have continued its assault on Royal County Down's Championship Links, but the drama and quality of golf on display was anything but a damp squib on the second day of the Boys Home Internationals.
England and Ireland had enjoyed success in the morning foursomes, and though Scotland and Wales gave them a run for their money in the afternoon singles matches ultimately the defending champions and the host nation came through.
The results have set up a dramatic final day encounter between the two unbeaten nations to fight it out for The R&A Trophy.
With England having claimed a resounding victory over their Scottish opponents in the foursomes (winning four and a half points from a possible five) the Scots knew that they had to come out strongly in the afternoon – and they did.
After nine holes, they were ahead in four matches, level in five and behind in only one, although in that latter game Tom Boys, of Royal Liverpool, had amassed an insurmountable four hole advantage over Sam Binning from Ranfurly Castle.
Boys would go on to win the match 5&4, and when England captain Tommy Fleetwood clicked into gear after the turn to post a 4&3 win over Michael Stewart, it seemed that the writing was on the wall.
England suddenly found themselves needing just a point and a half from the remaining eight matches to complete the victory. But Scotland had yet to give up on their hopes of an unlikely turnaround: Paul Shields of Kirkhill Golf Club beat Tom Lewis 2&1, a result matched by David Law as the Hazlehead youngster beat Northamptonshire's Adam Myers, and when Kyle Smith saw off Eddie Pepperell 3&2 it looked for a moment as if the miracle might yet happen.
There, however, the comeback was halted by the strong English side showing its determination. Darren Renwick and Jack Sheppard won their matches against Chris Robb and Colin Thomson respectively, though both needed the full 18 holes to do so.
And while Scotland enjoyed another win when Dunstan Hall's Stuart Ballingall concluded a tight match at the final hole for a two hole victory over Max Smith, it would soon be over. A halved match between Jonathan Bell and Andrew McLachlan and a gutsy win by Sunningdale's Stiggy Hodgson, who turned around a one hole deficit at the turn to win 3&2 over Mark Bookless of Sandyhills, saw England take the singles 5.5-4.5, and thereby record a 10-5 win in the match.
By the time the early games in Wales's match with host nation Ireland had reached the turn, the harsh conditions which had dogged the first day and a half of play in this year's Boys Home Internationals relented.
And as if inspired by the sunshine, the Welsh boys outperformed their hosts in the early matches to win the first two games, with Ben Enoch beating Irish Captain Alan Dunbar 3&1 and Chris Nugent of Fulford Heath stopping Luke Lennox's unbeaten run in the week so far.
Rhodri Harston then provided the shock of the day: not only did he beat his Irish opponent Garth McGee, who was undefeated in all his previous three matches, but he beat him by a handsome 7&5 margin.
But while it looked for a moment as if the Welsh team had a real chance of overturning their one point deficit from the foursomes, it was not to be. Ireland then turned the match on its head, claiming wins in all seven games left on the course.
Reeve Whitson, whose father Kevan is the professional at Royal County Down, added a 4&3 singles victory to his 4&3 triumph from the morning foursomes, and two more Ulstermen picked up points as Chris Selfridge of Moyola Park and local Garth Boyd of Donaghadee, County Down won their matches 2&1 and 3&2 respectively.
Richard O'Donovan won 3&1 against the youngest player in the event, 14-year-old Rhys Pugh, while Barry Anderson and Chris Drumm both enjoyed 5&4 victories to see off Patrick Mullins and Llion Lloyd Kerry respectively.
The last match came down the 18th hole with Ireland's Paul Dunne one ahead of Welshman Ross McLister. Dunne had been one down on the 14th tee, but won that hole and the 16th to take a one-up lead which he held all the way in.
It was more than just a matter of pride: Dunne's valuable point established a winning margin of 10-5 for Ireland, ensuring that Ireland and England will head into tomorrow's deciding match against England level on points with the defending champions.
AT ROYAL COUNTY DOWN GC, NORTHERN IRELAND.
England 10, Scotland 5 (foursomes 4 1/2-1/2, singles 5 1/2-4 1/2).
Ireland 10, Wales 5 (foursomes 3-2, singles, 7-3).
FROM THE R&A WEBSITE:
The rain might have continued its assault on Royal County Down's Championship Links, but the drama and quality of golf on display was anything but a damp squib on the second day of the Boys Home Internationals.
England and Ireland had enjoyed success in the morning foursomes, and though Scotland and Wales gave them a run for their money in the afternoon singles matches ultimately the defending champions and the host nation came through.
The results have set up a dramatic final day encounter between the two unbeaten nations to fight it out for The R&A Trophy.
With England having claimed a resounding victory over their Scottish opponents in the foursomes (winning four and a half points from a possible five) the Scots knew that they had to come out strongly in the afternoon – and they did.
After nine holes, they were ahead in four matches, level in five and behind in only one, although in that latter game Tom Boys, of Royal Liverpool, had amassed an insurmountable four hole advantage over Sam Binning from Ranfurly Castle.
Boys would go on to win the match 5&4, and when England captain Tommy Fleetwood clicked into gear after the turn to post a 4&3 win over Michael Stewart, it seemed that the writing was on the wall.
England suddenly found themselves needing just a point and a half from the remaining eight matches to complete the victory. But Scotland had yet to give up on their hopes of an unlikely turnaround: Paul Shields of Kirkhill Golf Club beat Tom Lewis 2&1, a result matched by David Law as the Hazlehead youngster beat Northamptonshire's Adam Myers, and when Kyle Smith saw off Eddie Pepperell 3&2 it looked for a moment as if the miracle might yet happen.
There, however, the comeback was halted by the strong English side showing its determination. Darren Renwick and Jack Sheppard won their matches against Chris Robb and Colin Thomson respectively, though both needed the full 18 holes to do so.
And while Scotland enjoyed another win when Dunstan Hall's Stuart Ballingall concluded a tight match at the final hole for a two hole victory over Max Smith, it would soon be over. A halved match between Jonathan Bell and Andrew McLachlan and a gutsy win by Sunningdale's Stiggy Hodgson, who turned around a one hole deficit at the turn to win 3&2 over Mark Bookless of Sandyhills, saw England take the singles 5.5-4.5, and thereby record a 10-5 win in the match.
By the time the early games in Wales's match with host nation Ireland had reached the turn, the harsh conditions which had dogged the first day and a half of play in this year's Boys Home Internationals relented.
And as if inspired by the sunshine, the Welsh boys outperformed their hosts in the early matches to win the first two games, with Ben Enoch beating Irish Captain Alan Dunbar 3&1 and Chris Nugent of Fulford Heath stopping Luke Lennox's unbeaten run in the week so far.
Rhodri Harston then provided the shock of the day: not only did he beat his Irish opponent Garth McGee, who was undefeated in all his previous three matches, but he beat him by a handsome 7&5 margin.
But while it looked for a moment as if the Welsh team had a real chance of overturning their one point deficit from the foursomes, it was not to be. Ireland then turned the match on its head, claiming wins in all seven games left on the course.
Reeve Whitson, whose father Kevan is the professional at Royal County Down, added a 4&3 singles victory to his 4&3 triumph from the morning foursomes, and two more Ulstermen picked up points as Chris Selfridge of Moyola Park and local Garth Boyd of Donaghadee, County Down won their matches 2&1 and 3&2 respectively.
Richard O'Donovan won 3&1 against the youngest player in the event, 14-year-old Rhys Pugh, while Barry Anderson and Chris Drumm both enjoyed 5&4 victories to see off Patrick Mullins and Llion Lloyd Kerry respectively.
The last match came down the 18th hole with Ireland's Paul Dunne one ahead of Welshman Ross McLister. Dunne had been one down on the 14th tee, but won that hole and the 16th to take a one-up lead which he held all the way in.
It was more than just a matter of pride: Dunne's valuable point established a winning margin of 10-5 for Ireland, ensuring that Ireland and England will head into tomorrow's deciding match against England level on points with the defending champions.
Labels: Boys
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Thursday, August 07, 2008
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