GOLF/ Women's: Ireland took 3½ points from the singles to share the spoils with Scotland at 4½ points each at the end of the first series of matches in the Home Internationals at Cruden Bay yesterday as all four teams ended level after England also shared the points with Wales.

Scotland led Ireland in all three foursomes at one stage but had to settle for a 2-1 lunchtime lead. Maura Morrin and Maria Dunne lost 7 and 6 to Anne Laing and Heather McRae after the Scots won five holes in a row from the third.

Tricia Mangan and Heather Nolan lost by one hole to Lynn Kenny and Lesley Mackay but Claire Coughlan and Helen Jones staged a gritty comeback from three down after seven holes to beat Clare Queen and Pamela Feggans by one hole.

The Irish pair, three down after seven, won the ninth, 10th, 14th and 15th and a par at the last was enough for a one-hole win.

Coughlan again led the Irish charge in the singles. The Cork girl won the fifth, seventh, ninth and 10th on her way to a 4 and 3 win over Louise Kenney.

Laing gave Scotland first blood taking three holes from the 14th to beat Mangan 2 and 1.

Tara Delaney marked her debut by beating Lesley Mackay 2 and 1 after establishing a four-hole lead after six holes.

Mackay came back to win the 10th, 14th and 15th but then had to concede the 16th and a half for Delaney at the 17th finished the match.

Sinead Keane came back from three down at the 10th to win six of the next seven holes to beat Laura Wells 3 and 1 and it was left to Morrin, two down to Queen after 13, to win the 14th and 16th and earn Ireland a vital half point.