WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS

The flowers of Scotland blooming after a famous victory. Picture by Mary Richardson

Scots beat England for first time since 2010 

and open up title race

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Scotland won five of the six singles to beat title-holders England 6-3 on Day 2 of the Women's Home Internationals at Royal Wimbledon Golf Club.

It's the first time Scotland have beaten England since their last title-winning year of 2010 and throws the title race wide open.

The day's other match finished in a draw - Ireland 4.5, Wales 4.5

If Scotland beat Wales on the final day and the England v. Ireland match ends in a draw, then a countback would decide the destination of the Miller Trophy between Scotland and Ireland.

England looked set for victory - they beat the Scots 7-2 l2 months ago - when they took the foursomes 2-1 but then the Scots produced their finest collective performance for many a long day.

Hannah McCook was the inspiration. She following up her Wednesday win over Olivia Mehaffey by beating another GB and I international, Gemma Clews, by 6 and 4.

The Stirlng student from Grantown-on-Spey was in rampant form and never lost a hole.

Hannah won the first, fourth, sixth, 10th, 12th and 14th.

Scotland took a 3-2 lead when former Scottish champion Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) won by 5 and 3 over Sophie Lamb.

The St Andrews student never looked back after winning the first, third and fourth. By the turn, having won the eighth and ninth, she was five up.

Lamb won the 12th and 14th after the turn but MacDonald had won the 11th to go six up and she clinched a clear-cut win by winning the 15th. It was arguably Gabrielle's best match-play performance since she won the Scottish title.

England were not beaten yet, however. Hollie Muse levelled it at 3-3 with a two-hole victory over St Andrews student Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie) who won the 10th and 13th to be all square.

But Muse won the 17th and 18th for victory.

Chloe Goadby (St Regulus)  put the Scots ahead 4-3 with a gritty performance in beating Inci Mehmet by one hole.

Goadby was two up after 10 but Mehmet won the 12th, 15th and 16th to lead by one with two to play.

But Goadby finished well, taking the 17th and 18th for victory.

Scotland then got the winning fifth point, courtesy of Midlothian champion Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) who beat Sammy Fuller by two holes.

Three up at one stage on the outward half, McIntosh found herself pegged back over the early holes of the inward half and was one down after 12 and again after 14h.

But the Scot squared the match by winning the 15th and then won the 17th and 18th for a great victory.

And the icing on the cake for the Scots was a two-hole win by Gillian Paton in the final singles. The Royal Montrose player beat Samantha Giles by two holes after being four up on the 14th tee.

Giles won the 14th, 15th and 16th to be one down with two play.

After a half at the 17th, Paton won the 18th for a two-hole triumph.
Shannon McWilliam, who had partnered Hannah McCook to a mornng foursomes win over Inci Mehmet and Sophie Lamb, was rested from the afternoon singles as she has sore back for which she has been receiving physio treatment the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre.

DAY TWO RESULTS

ENGLAND 3, SCOTLAND 6
Foursomes: 2-1
I Mehmet and S Lamb lost to S McWilliam and H McCook 2 and 1.
S Keech and S Giles bt A Summers and C Goadby  3 and 2.
H Muse and G Clews bt G MacDonald and G Paton 1 hole.
Singles: 1-5
Clews lost to McCook 6 and 4.
Muse bt Summers 2 holes
Lamb lost to MacDonald 5 and 3
Mehmet lost to Goadby 1 hole
S Fuller lost to K McIntosh 2 holes
Giles lost to Paton 2 holes


IRELAND 4.5, WALES 4.5
Foursomes: 2-1
O Mehaffey and A Wilson bt S Birks and G Lewis 3 and 2.
M  Dunne and C Ryan lost to K O'Connor and L Hillier 3 and 2.
P Grant and J McCarthy bt  C Williams and E Griffiths 4 and 3
Singles:  2,5-3.5
Mehaffey bt Williams 2 and 1. 
Grant lost to O'Connor 2 and 1.
N McSherry bt Birks 2 and 1.
S Helly lost to B Morris 2 and 1.
McCarthy halved with Lewis
Dunne lost to Hillier 1 hole. 

HOW THEY STAND
Ireland 1.5pt
Scotland 1pt
England 1pt
Wales  0.5pt

FINAL MATCHES
Scotland v Wales
England v Ireland