Bowls: Ireland take home title

ENGLAND, THE favourites to recapture the Home International Championship, saw the title snatched from their grasp by Ireland in a dramatic finish at Les Creux Club in Jersey yesterday.

England were beaten 111-97 by Wales, collecting just four points in the process - a result that opened the door for Ireland. The Irish needed 20 points from their match with Scotland but that looked a forlorn hope when the Scots led 65-50 at the halfway point. However, Ireland hit back for an overall 120-100 victory and wins on five of the six rinks saw them reach their total.

It all came down to the last match when Ian McClure needed to beat Willie Wood to give Ireland the title. The Portrush youngster took a 15-10 lead and in a nervy finish Scotland almost denied Ireland but a three was the best Wood could manage to leave McClure a 15-13 winner.

Earlier England had managed just two wins from their clash with Wales, David Cutler beating Dai Wilkins 18-16 and David Holt winning against Will Thomas 19-16.

HOME INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (Jersey): Wales bt England by 111-97 (Welsh skips first): A Atwood bt A Thomson 16-13, D Wilkins lost to D Cutler 16-18, J Price bt D Denison 15-12, W Thomas lost D Holt 16-19, J Greenslade bt T Allcock 20-17, R Weale bt J Leeman 28-18). Ireland bt Scotland 120-100 (Irish skips first): N Booth beat R Logan 21-16, S Allen bt N Currie 23-16, C Parkinson lost to G Archer 13-19, G McCloy bt G Abrain 24-19, G Scott bt A Marshall 24-17, I McClure bt W Wood 15-13). Final placings: 1 Ireland 61pts; 2 England 60; 3 Wales 57; 4 Scotland 32; 5 Channel Islands 10.