Wooden spoon for Ireland as England triumph
England won the Raymond Trophy - Ireland got the wooden spoon. Could it have been worse?
The Home Internationals ended with a stirring Irish rearguard action on Friday but losing 12-3 to Scotland was still the end result.
Ireland lost the foursomes 4-1 and seven of the ten singles with Dara Lernihan the only player to grab a win. Pat Murray and Connor Doran took halves but the Scots were simply too strong.
Take David Law, the Scottish champion, came back from 2-down through 12 holes to win the next five and beat Alan Dunbar, Ireland’s most successful player during the week, 3 and 1.
Wallace Booth led all the way to overcome Niall Kearney, his Walker Cup colleague, 4 and 3 while James Byrne proved the Scots best player with five wins and a half after beating Simon Ward 3 and 2.
According to the official report: “To Ireland’s credit, five matches went to the 18th green, Ireland winning one through Dara Lernihan and two being halved.
"In the end it meant the Irish went away with the wooden spoon after three defeats while Wales claimed third place thanks to their win over the Irish.”
England won the Home Internationals thanks to a 10.5 – 4.5 victory over Wales.
“I’m ecstatic,” said a delighted England captain Colin Edwards. “To beat Wales like that was special and to complete three wins in the week caps it off. To win the Home Internationals as a player and as captain is also special. Considering the conditions which were horrendous, the boys played some magnificent golf and battled hard. I’m glad I wasn’t playing.
“Also to win here is special. Hillside is a magnificent course; I won the Brabazon Trophy here a few years ago so this makes it an even more special place for me.”
Wales managed to take just one of the 10 singles to the 18th with Rhys Enoch beating James Robinson by one hole.
With seven Walker Cup players in their side, the English win will be a relief to GB&I skipper Colin Dalgleish.
Still, Dunbar’s performances raise questions over his non-selection for the matches at Merion in two weeks’ time.
The Rathmore player had a 100 percent record from his four matches until the final day.