The young England U16 team that lost by three points to Ireland at Hunstanton. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

A YOUNG England Under 16 squad earned praise for their gritty play in a narrow defeat to Ireland.

The visitors emerged from two days of tough competition at Norfolk’s Hunstanton Golf Club with a 16½-13½victory.

The win was sweet revenge for Ireland following England’s triumph at Limerick GC a year ago.

But there is much for the England staff and players to build on as they look ahead to the European Team Championships and Home Internationals in 2020 and beyond.

After the first day’s play featuring both foursomes and singles matches, Ireland held a 10½/2-7½ lead.

They were then made to fight all the way with honours even in terms of the 12 singles games on the second day, which produced a 6-6 tie allowing Ireland to claim overall victory.

Ireland’s strength lie particularly in the boys’ section but there was some sparkling golf on show from both countries.

The combined girls’ and boys’ teams had to put up with some treacherous conditions  – especially on Sunday when the wind and rain swept into Norfolk and produced some appalling weather for golf.

Yet the standard of play was of a very high standard.

Josh Berry beat Ireland’s England U16 Strokeplay Champion Josh Hill 6&5 in the Sunday singles. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

From the boys’ point of view the form of Yorkshire’s Joshua Berry was noteworthy – the 14-year-old managing to claim big singles victories against Joe Byrne and full Irish international Josh Hill – winner of the McGregor Trophy in July – by shooting under-par on both days.

Worcestershire’s Scottish U14 Boys Open Champion Hugh Adams, who was runner-up in the Reid Trophy, in August, also put two points on the board in singles to re-inforce his growing reputation at junior level.

In the girls’ squad, Nelson GC’s Lydia Cryer can also feel justifiably proud of her efforts having won all three games she played.

The Lancashire junior displayed great character to win both her singles matches on the 18th green.

Meanwhile, for the second season in succession Surrey’s Rafiah Banday ended the Irish match unbeaten – winning a foursomes tie and taking one and a half points from the Royal Mid-Surrey teeanger’s two singles games.

Even for those players unable to win full points or simply new to the set-up, there was plenty to admire about the way they coped with exposure to the international scene.

Close House’s Maggie Whitehead’s singles victory over Katie Poots on Sunday will fill the Northumberland-based player with confidence going forward.

Meanwhile, Farnham’s Lottie Woad was three-down with three to play in her singles game against Anna Dawson.

But the reigning Surrey Ladies Amateur Champion – who is just 16 – fought back to earn a half.

Ireland’s Beth Coulter had to come from two-down with two to play to deny Arcot Hall’s Rachel Gourley a point that her overall play perhaps merited.

A birdie on 17 and a fantastic up-and-down on 18 denied glory for Gourley, the second Northumbrian in the England team.

After the conclusion of the autumn round of junior internationals, England’s regional and national squads will meet up for coaching over the winter months at Woodhall Spa, the National Golf Centre, in Lincolnshire.

The juniors will receive one-to-one coaching and advice, which forms part of a personal development plan.

For full results from Hunstanton GC, click here.

England team:–
Hugh Adams (Hagley GC)
Jack Bigham (Harpenden GC)
Josh Berry (Doncaster GC)
Jack Ingham (Eindhovensche GC)
Harley Smith (Rayleigh GC)
George Durkan (Bishop’s Storford GC)
Thomas Hull (Spalding GC)
Rafiah Banday (Royal Mid Surrey GC)
Ameila Wan (Notts Ladies GC)
Maggie Whitehead (Close House GC)
Lydia Cryer (Nelson GC)
Rachel Gourley (Arcot Hall GC)
Lottie Woad (Farnham GC)

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The England Schools team that drew the Boys’ game 9-9 against Scotland at Irvine GC, while the Girls managed a 51/2-31/2 victory to bring down the curtain on the 2019 season.

THE curtain has come down on the English Schools’ Golf Association’s season, which has been hailed a “roaring success” after two 14-year-olds were crowned as U19 national champions.

Dorset’s Louise Burke and Yorkshire’s Josh Berry captained their country in the international matches against Scotland and Wales after their victory in the 42^nd English Schools Championship at Nottinghamshire’s Sherwood Forest, in July.

And after victory over the Welsh, it took a late fight back from the hosts north of the border to peg England back to a draw against Scotland in the boys’ matches, while the girls beat the Auld Enemy 51/2-31/2.

The two EGSA games against Scotland and Wales always brings an edge to proceedings with national pride at stake.

The match against Wales was played at Luffenham Heath GC in August and saw England win 111/2-61/2.

After travelling north to face Scotland on the links at Irvine GC, the match proved to be a real nail-biter.

England’s form was excellent and it looked as if they were well on their way to victory, before the Scots fought back to win the final three points available and secure a 9-9 draw.

Steve Akrill, secretary of the ESGA, said: “Scotland had five players who were in their national set-up for the Home Internationals.

“England’s team spirit for that match really shone through with the girls finishing their games and heading straight back out onto the course to lend their support to the boys.

“When the girls faced Wales they were definitely underdogs.

“Our average handicap was three compared to Wales’ one, but the girls performed superbly with three wins in the singles helping the combined team to get over the line.

“It’s been a really positive year with lots of good golf being played and the enthusiasm of the youngsters shining through.”

•To see the full scores from Irvine GC, click here.

Dorset’s Louise Burke and Yorkshire’s Josh Berry after their wins in the 42nd English Schools Championship at Sherwood Forest, in Nottinghamshire.

Berry also represented the full England team in the U16 Home Internationals.

Doncaster’s Campsmount Academy pupil has also been named in the England Golf Boys’ squad for the 2020 season.

The Under 16s England Schools Championship was staged at West Yorkshire’s Cleckheaton and District GC, with Rachel Gourley and Finn Nelson claiming the honours from a field of 65 players.

Rachel earned a call-up to the England Golf set-up. She will be part of the girls’ team – along with Louise Burke – for a challenge match against Ireland at Hunstanton GC, on October 12-13.

Three venues for next year’s events have already been decided with the national championship taking place at Gog Magog GC, in Cambridgeshire, the U16 event going to Northamptonshire County GC and the away game against Wales set for the Rolls of Monmouth GC.

“It’s been a great season for both the boys and the girls and the events at regional and national level have shown we have a lot of strength in depth,” Akrill added.

“In particular we had a lot of younger players emerging and more than holding their own against older players in their age bracket. That’s always great to see.

“The events at regional and national level have shown we have a lot of strength in depth,” admitted Akrill.

“In particular we had a lot of younger players emerging and more than holding their own against older players in their age bracket. That’s always great to see.”

Northumberland’s Rachel Gourley and Nottinghamshire’s Finn Nelson claimed the English U16s titles at Cleckheaton and District GC, in West Yorkshire

•The English Schools’ team event was staged at the National Golf Centre HQ, at Woodhall Spa, in Lincolnshire. England Golf is a committed supporter of the ESGA.

Hartlepool’s Dyke House Academy trio of Jack Burton, Louis Westmoreland and William Skipp – who are coached by European Tour winner Graeme Storm won by three points in the Stableford competition beating 33 teams from 25 other counties.

ENGLAND v Scotland
Louise Burke (capt) – Lytchett Minster, Dorset
Rachel Gourley – Cramlington Learning Village, Northumberland
Estelle Ingram – Gordon’s School, Surrey
Zara Naughton – Ponteland Middle, Northumberland
Amelia Wan – Tuxford Academy, Nottinghamshire
Ellen Yates – Woking High, Surrey
Josh Berry – Campsmount Doncaster, Yorkshire
Nathan Ali – Prince Henry’s Grammar, Yorkshire
Josh Ashton – Tupton High, Derbyshire
Oliver Caton – Honley High, Yorkshire
Taylor Crisp – Suffolk New, Suffolk
Harry Crockett – Oxted, Surrey
Duran Gun – Thornhill, High Durham
Daniel Heaslip – Ripley Mill Hill, Derbyshire
Ben Loveard – Cardinal Newan, Bedfordshire
Jack Maxey – Holderness Academy, Yorkshire
Craig Passmore – SGS College, Avon
Sam Potter – Trent College, Derbyshire

ENGLAND v Wales
Ellie Farwell (capt) – St Clement Danes, Hertfordshire
Rachel Gourley – Cramlington Learning Village, Northumberland
Sarah Mardani – Gordon’s School, Surrey
Abigail Taylor – Prince Henry’s Grammar, Yorkshire
Josh Berry (capt) – Campsmount, Yorkshire
Jake Ball – Queen Elizabeth’s GS, Lincolnshire
George Fricker – Farlingaye, Suffolk
Alex Heppell – Haydon Bridge High, Northumberland
Finn Nelson – Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
Ben Partridge – St Andrew’s RC, Surrey
Reis Suart – Monk’s Walk, Hertfordshire
Jack Whaley Ridgewood Yorkshire

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