England and Ireland claimed the spoils on the opening day of the Women’s and Girls’ Home Internationals at Downfield as the Ireland Boys team beat Wales 9-6 and now face England for the title at Ashburnham

England beat Wales 6-3 in the Girls’ event and were even more convincing victors in the women’s event with an 8-1 scoreline. 

A year ago at Ballybunion, Ireland lost a close final day match to relinquish the women’s trophy to Scotland. A thrilling 5-4 victory that went all the way to the 18th green in the final match on the course made for sweet revenge for the Irish this time around.

In the Girls event, Ireland won the final three matches against hosts Scotland to claim a 6-3 victory margin. 

Paula Grant made it 4-4 with a 3&2 triumph and then Chloe Ryan produced a stunning finale to win by one hole against Louise Duncan. 

All square with three holes to play, Ryan won the 16th with a six foot birdie putt, had a great half in birdie twos at the next and then held on for the win with a par at the last. 

Danielle McVeigh, the Irish captain, was delighted with the result. “It was brilliant,” she said. “I knew it was going to be very tough against Scotland They have a very strong team and it took a lot of good golf to win. I think we maybe just had the edge on experience.” 

Helen Jones, in her second stint as Irish Girls captain, also watched her team win a late batch of singles - Sara Byrne, Anna Dawson and Aine Donegan clinching the vital, final three points. 

“It was good to take two of the foursomes but was still very close after the first nine in the singles. But then the girls put the foot down and it is a nice way to start,” she stated. 

On day two, Scotland meet England and Ireland face Wales.

Boys Home Internationals - Ireland to face England for the title

England will face Ireland at Ashburnham in Wales to decide the winner of the 91st Boys Home Internationals in a rematch of the 2018 encounter at Royal Dornoch. England won the deciding match 8-7 last year, and Ireland is looking for revenge in Wales.

Wales made up for a poor opening day against England, defeating a strong Irish team 3-2 in the foursomes

Dylan Thomas and newly crowned Welsh Amateur champion Archie Davies got the home side off to an excellent start with a 3&2 victory over Tom McKibbin and Luke O’Neill. Tom Peet and Sean David made it two out of two by beating Aaron Marshall and Joshua McCabe 4&3.

Ireland responded when Josh Mackin and Max Kennedy defeated Bryn Thomas and Lloyd Walters by the same score line. However, Reuben Bather and Connor Owen then ran out 4&3 winners over Fionn Hickey and Simon Walker to ensure Wales won the morning session.

The home side was looking to build on the momentum of the morning foursomes win but struggled in the opening two singles. The Irish quickly went ahead 4-3 when McKibbin led the charge with a one-hole victory over Davies. O’Neill threw in a 2&1 victory over James Ashfield.  Hill was out in the sixth singles match but only needed to play 13 holes. He defeated David 6&5.

Peet and Bryn Thomas gave home supporters hope with respective halves against Marshall and Walker. Dylan Thomas defeated namesake Dylan Keating 4&3. However, Mackin ensured Ireland only needed on more point to defeat Wales when he ran out a 2&1 winner over Owen. The point duly came when Kennedy beat Bather 4&2. Ireland ended up winning 9-6.

Alasdair Gibson, Ireland captain, said, “The first few singles matches this afternoon were very important. We were looking to get two points out of the top three and we got two and a half.  We didn’t think losing 3-2 this morning was a big setback.  It could easily have gone our way.

“So we knew we had the singles to come and we were quite confident. I think the key was we got off to a good start on the first hole, which is quite difficult. We won it five times this afternoon, halved two and lost three so the boys got off to a great start.

“That’s what you have to do against the quality of golf that’s on display here this week. We lost to England 8-7 last year so we’ll be looking to reverse that decision this year and take the trophy back to Ireland.”

England are favourites on paper to beat the Irish considering the 11-man side has three players in the World Amateur Golf RankingTM top 100 – Gough, Williams and Pagdin.

As history shows, international matches are not settled on paper. The tough Asburnham links will play a huge factor in who emerges as the top junior golf team in Great Britain and Ireland.