England win silver in European girls’ team championship

England had to settle for the silver medal after they lost 4½ -½ to Sweden in the final of the European girls team championship at Murcar Links, Scotland.

Team captain Julie Brown said afterwards: The girls are crying their eyes out but I have told them that they have done so well. They have tried so hard, they ve put 110 per cent into it and I am just so proud of them. They have been superb.

England were handicapped when Nottinghamshire s Alex Peters woke up with a very stiff neck. It was the worst of a number of injuries affecting the team and ruled her out of the singles.

They suffered a further setback when Sweden won both morning foursomes and their gold medal hopes depended on winning every singles.

However, the Swedes quickly moved ahead in the singles and although all three English girls fought hard they could not avoid defeat.

English champion Hannah Barwood came back from 5 down to lose only on the last, while Lancashire s Kelly Tidy was beaten on the 17th and her county colleague Rachel Connor settled for a half.

The final was played in extremely difficult conditions of 26mph winds and driving rain.

Results

Foursomes

Hannah Barwood (Knowle) & Rachel Connor (Manchester) lost to Josephine Janson & Louise Larsson 5&4

Alex Peters (Notts Ladies ) & Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) lost to Amanda Strang & Johanna Tillstrom 1 down

Singles

Hannah Barwood lost to Louise Larsson 1 down

Rachel Connor halved with Amanda Strang

Kelly Tidy lost to Josephine Janson 2/1