Convincing win over Scots leaves England in top spot

England go into the final day of the Women’s Home Internationals at Hillside Golf Club, Lancashire as the only team with a 100 per cent record and favourites to win the title for the first time since Dunbar in 2007.

Scotland, the defending champions, suffered their second defeat of the week when they lost 6-3 to England who took a grip on the outcome by making a 3-0 clean sweep of the morning foursomes.

There was some consolation for skipper Fiona Norris who gave the singles line-up a shake-up after the morning drubbing. She took the bold step of leaving out both the Briggs sisters, Megan and Eilidh and Scotland, with champion Louise Kenney playing No 6 instead of the traditional No 1 position, regained some of their lost pride by sharing the singles 3-3.

Kelly Tidy extended the England lead to 4-0 by beating Jane Turner 5 and 3. Pamela Pretswell put Scotland’s first point of the day on the board by beating Charlotte Wild 3 and 1 in the lead-off match. Pretswell was three up after six holes and was four up after 11 holes.

Holly Clyburn made it 5-1 for England with a 5 and 3 win over debutant Rebecca Wilson and Bronte Law chalked up a sixth point for Scotland by beating Kelsey MacDonald 2 and 1.

Alyson McKechin scored a second point for Scotland by beating Charlotte Ellis by one hole. The Scots teenager was just one up going into the closing stages but halved the last two holes, pitching dead for a 5 at the last after her first chip went over the green. Kenney won the last tie, beating young Georgia Hall 2 and 1 after going three up through eight holes.

Wales bounced back well from their 6-3 defeat by England on the first day to win 6-3 against Ireland.