England under 16s overcome Ireland

England followed up their 8-2 win over Scotland with a comprehensive 15-5 victory over Ireland in a history-making first ever under 16 international between the two countries.

Over two days in superb autumnal weather at Bury St Edmunds Golf Club in Suffolk, the English team of eight were generally in control after they won all four first-day foursomes.

The opening singles also saw England in control and at the end of day one they had built an unassailable 10½-1½ lead.

On a second morning that began misty, the second series of singles were much more even with the Irish mounting a commendable fight back.

They took the top match when Irish boy champion Paul Dunne beat Oscar Sharpe 3 and 2, while Matt McKnight hit back after trailing to Billy Downing to secure a half.

Irish Under 15 Champion Dermot McElroy added to the visitors tally with a 2 and 1 win over Liam Harper but England had their own winners with Under 16 Champion Seb Crookall-Nixon, the only home player to taste defeat on the first day, gaining a 1 hole win over Gary Collins.

Other matches finished well before the final hole with Jack Heasman, James Burnett and Chris Lloyd all completing fine wins.

The bottom match also went to the final hole where Graham Donohue edged out home captain Adam Carson by the narrowest of margins.

Results

England 15 Ireland 5

Saturday Foursomes (England names first):

Chris Lloyd & Adam Carson bt Paul Dunne & Matthew McKnight 4&3

Oscar Sharpe & Seb Crookall-Nixon bt Dermot McElroy & Kieron Lynch 1 hole

Billy Downing & James Burnett bt Graham Donohue & Keith Egan 4&3

Jack Heasman & Liam Harper bt Gary Collins & John Ross Galbraith 5&4

Singles:

Lloyd bt Dunne 2&1

Carson bt McElroy 1 hole

Sharpe bt Lynch 5&4

Downing bt Egan 3&1

Crookall-Nixon lost to McKnight 5&4

Harper halved with Collins

Heasman bt Galbraith 2&1

Burnett bt Donohue 2 holes

Sunday Singles:

Sharpe lost to Dunne 3&2

Downing halved with McKnight

Crookall-Nixon bt Collins 1 hole

Harper lost to McElroy 2&1

Heasman bt Egan 3&2

Burnett bt Lynch 4&2

Lloyd bt Galbraith 5&3

Carson lost to Donohue 1 hole