Leinster surged back after an afternoon scare by Munster to stay firmly on course for a seventh consecutive win in the AIB Women's Interprovincial Championship at stormy Portstewart yesterday. The holders edged out Munster by one point while Ulster raced to a massive 8-2 win over Connacht.

The holders won the morning foursomes 2-1 but Munster got down to their task after lunch to win the top two games. Claire Coughlan beat Irish strokeplay champion Rebecca Coakley 2 and 1 while Trish Manger defeated Yvonne Cassidy by 5 and 4. Miriam Abernethy was also on song with a 6 and 4 result over Fiona Healy but the picture changed in the closing stages with Jenny Gannon, Elaine Dowdall and Deirdre Smith winning and Sinead Keane securing the half for victory.

Paula Delaney was in superb form for Ulster who swept to a huge win over Connacht after sharing the foursomes.

British Girls Open: One Irish player managed to elbow her way into the Continentals-dominated 32 qualifiers for the matchplay stages of the British girls open championship at rainy Blairgowrie in Scotland yesterday.

Maria Dunne (Skerries) returned a five-over-par 79 over the very wet Rosemount course for a 36-hole aggregate of 153, two strokes inside the qualifying mark. Irish girls champion Martina Gillen from Beaverstown struggled to get round in 80 for 156 and failed by a shot to qualify. Heather Nolan (Shannon) shot a 79 for 162. Sarah Gallagher (Claremorris) had an 81 for 167, Suzie Hayes (Hermitage) an 80 for 174 and Michelle Holmes (Enniscrone) 88 for 176.