Womens'Senior Internationals:Ireland made a successful start to their challenge for honours in the inaugural Women's Seniors Home International Championship at Whittington Heath yesterday.
They overcame Scotland 4-3 with Donabate veteran Mary McKenna their heroine by clinching the half point they required for victory.
McKenna, the nine-times Curtis Cup player who captained Ireland to the home international crown at Cruden Bay last month, was ahead of Noreen Fenton most of the way but in the end had to cling on for an honourable share of the spoils.
Earlier McKenna, the 2001 British seniors champion, had lined up with Ann Maloney for a tense last-green foursomes win over Pam Williamson and Karen Ballantyne while the experienced Valerie Hassett of Ennis and Mary Madden halved their top-of-the-order clash with Moira Thomson and Lynne Terry.
Ireland's singles winners were Hassett and Roma English while Denise O'Sullivan and Madden were beaten.
In the other opening day fixture England defeated Wales 4-3 after losing both the morning foursomes. Ireland face Wales today while Scotland play England.
WOMENS' SENIOR HOME INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP(at Whittington Heath): Ireland 4 Scotland 3(Ireland names first - Foursomes: V Hassett and M Madden halved with M Thomson and L Terry; M McKenna and A Maloney bt P Williamson and K Ballantyne 1 hole; Singles : Hassett bt H Faulds 5 and 3; McKenna halved with N Fenton; Madden lost to Thomson 5 and 4; R English beat Terry 4 and 2; D O'Sullivan lost to Williamson 6 and 5).
