Scotland stun title holders England in Home Internationals

Scotland pulled off a stunning second-day success over defending champions England to keep their title hopes alive in the R&A Men’s Home Internationals at Hankley Common.

Balmore's James Wilson led Scotland's fightback in the afternoon singles session on the second day of the R&A Men's Home Internationals at Hankley Common.

Bouncing back from a narrow defeat to Ireland in the opening set of matches, the Scots stormed to a 10-5 victory despite losing the morning foursomes at the Surrey venue.

Balmore’s James Wilson led the afternoon fightback as he beat Jack Dyer of Boyce Hill 3&2 in the top singles match.

Other points were then delivered in the next three games by Auchterarder’s Rory Franssen, Connor Wilson of Castle Park and Kirkhill’s Lewis Irvine.

Franssen beat Brabazon Trophy winner Sam Bairstow (Hallowes) 3&1, Wilson won by the same margin against Jack Dyer (Boyce Hill) and Irvine triumphed by two holes over Frilford Heath’s Olly Huggins.

Scottish champion Angus Carrick (Craigielaw) lost his match, as did Turnberry teenager Ruben Lindsay, but the Scots also dominated the bottom half of the order.

Team captain Matthew Clark made it four points out of four as he beat Arron Edwards-Hill (Chelmsford) by two holes, before 2019 Scottish champion George Burns (Williamwood) and Murrayfield’s Andrew Ni both added 2&1 victories.

Burns beat Zachary Chegwidden (Orsett) while Ni’s win came against Rye’s Laird Shepherd, the St Andrews-based Amateur champion.

Victory had already been secured before Irvine’s Stuart Easton added some more icing to the cake with another 2&1 win over Royal Lytham’s Callan Barrow, winner of this year’s Scottish Open Stroke Play Championship at Southerness.

Earlier, Irvine and Easton had joined forces to win their morning foursomes match 3&1 over Chegwidden and Shepherd.

Clark and Carrick, meanwhile, won 2&1 against Jack Bigham and Josh Hill, the two youngsters playing in this event after already helping England win the inaugural Boys’ and Girls’ Home Internationals at Woodhall Spa earlier in the year.

The duo had also represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Jacques Léglise Trophy in Sweden last month.

“It’s not often you take England 8-2 in the singles,” said Clark. “The boys played their hearts out this afternoon and did themselves proud.

“When you are behind 3-2 from the foursomes, you need to try and win the first two games in the afternoon and James and Rory both produced fantastic performances against very good international golfers.

“James hit it to three inches at the 16th to clinch his win while Rory was five-under with no bogeys.

“Andrew has travelled 5,000 miles, paying for that journey out of his own pocket, to make his debut this week and has been an absolute superstar.

“As for George, he grows in stature every time he wears the Scotland badge and it was gutsy stuff from both of them at the tail.”

As for the captain’s contribution so far, Clark said with a laugh: “He’s done okay. Listen, I’m the oldest by a considerable margin, but I am the youngest mentally and I try to lead by example.”

Ireland are favourites for the title after making it two wins out of two with an 11-4 victory over Wales.

Scotland need a big win over Wales on the final day and also an England victory over Ireland to have a chance of landing a first title triumph since 2012.

“It is very reminiscent to when we last won at Glasgow Gailes,” said Clark. “First and foremost, we have to take care of our business against Wales then wait and see if England can win well against Ireland.”

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