WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS - Scotland draw with Ireland on Day 1

Scotland, with Ayrshire's Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) in the team, earned a 4.5 - 4.5 draw against Irelend on Day 1 of the 2013 Home Internationals at Scotscraig

 

 (Report from the SLGA Website)

 



Picture Cal Carson Agency

Back Row L to R Karen Marshall (Captain), Connie Jaffrey, Alyson McKechin, Lauren Whyte, Hannah McCook

Front Row L to R Eilidh Briggs, Gabrielle MacDonald, Heather Munro, Megan Briggs

In a dramatic finale to the opening day of the Women’s Home Internationals, Scotland drew 4 ½- 4 ½ with Ireland at Scotscraig. With the score tied at 4-4 it all came down to the final match of the singles and Eilidh Briggs won the final hole to finish all square with Leona Maguire.

 

 

It was a great, fighting result for Karen Marshall’s team made up of four experienced players and four new caps.

 

 

Scotland had made a great start by taking the morning foursomes 2-1. Scottish Champion Alyson McKechin and Briggs defeated the Maguire twins – Leona and Lisa – by 5 and 4 and Megan Briggs and newcomer Gabrielle MacDonald got another point with a 2 and 1 victory over Maria Dunne and Emma O’Driscoll. 

 

 

In the bottom match, youngsters Lauren Whyte and Scottish Girls’ Champion Connie Jaffrey, playing in her first match for the senior team, went down 4 and 3 to Paula Grant and Olivia Mehaffey.

 

 

Lisa Maguire won the top singles, taking the point from McKechin by 3 and 1 but Megan – Eilidh’s older sister – got in a blow for the hosts with a 3 and 2 triumph over Grant.

MacDonald lost 3 and 2 to Dunne and the next two matches were shared with Whyte defeating Amy Farrell 2 and 1 and Hannah McCook, on her Home International debut, succumbing 3 and 2 to Mehaffey.

 

So it was set up for the thrilling decider and Briggs made her great comeback to secure a halved match against a strong Irish team.

 

 

In the other match, Wales, 2-1 victors in the foursomes, had an easier 6 ½ – 2 ½ win over England.

 

 

Scotland take on England on day two and the foursomes draw is McKechin and Eilidh Briggs v Georgia Hall and Lauren Taylor, Whyte and new cap Heather Munro v Sarah-Jane Boyd and Rachael Goodall and Megan Briggs and MacDonald v Annabel Dimmock and Alexandra Peters.