England won a tight match against Ireland 5-3 to retain the Senior Women’s Home Internationals – and complete a second successive national clean sweep.


England won a tight match against Ireland 5-3 to successfully retain the Senior Women’s Home Internationals – and complete a second successive national clean sweep.

English senior amateur champion Helen Lowe won the 18th and her game to seal the victory for the team at Elm Park Golf Club, Ireland.

It’s the team’s ninth win since this championship began in 2003 and it means England have won the complete set of girls’, women’s and senior Home Internationals for the second year in a row.

England captain Pat Wrightson, who earlier in the season steered the team to a European silver medal, commented: “It was an excellent effort by the team and it’s been a pleasure to be their captain.”

England were put on the back foot on the first day of the tournament when they were held to a draw by Wales. They came straight back with a convincing win on the second day against Scotland; but Ireland, the European bronze medallists, had opened with two good wins.

It meant that England had to win today’s title decider while Ireland – champions in 2012 and 2013 – would take the trophy with a win or a halved result.

England set out with a strong foursomes performance and won the top two matches. Caroline Berry and Lulu Housman completed a perfect foursomes record with three wins from three outings and, like Julie Brown and Helen Lowe, were never behind in their game.

In the singles, Cath Rawthore won the first two holes and stayed ahead for her game, eventually winning 4/3. Lindsey Shaw, by contrast, lost the first but quickly righted matters and was ahead after the third, never dropping behind again, winning 2/1.

Helen Lowe’s match was always tight and there was never more than a hole in it. The players were all square after the 13th, with the next four holes all halved, but Lowe broke the deadlock with a win on the 18th to grab her point and confirm the team’s victory.

The England team, captained by Pat Wrightson (Huddersfield), is: Caroline Berry (Bromborough), Julie Brown (Trentham), Sue Dye (Delamere Forest), Lulu Housman (Wyke Green), Helen Lowe (Scraptoft), Cath Rawthore (Sale), Lindsey Shaw (Chevin).