EAST DIVISION INTER-COUNTY TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
MIDLOTHIAN'S FIRST TITLE SINCE 1988
Midlothian are through to the Scottish county finals for the first time since 1988.They head for Ranfurly Castle in September as East Division champions after beating Stirling & Clackmannan 7-2 in their final match.
East Lothian, who were level with Midlothian at the top of the table at the start of the final day, were held to a 4 ½-4 ½ draw by Fife who had been seeking to win the divisional title for the third year in a row.
Fife had the player of the tournament in Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), winner of all six ties she played. But Midlothian had the strength in depth that mattered with both Kirsten Blackwood (Glencorse) and Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) earning 5pt apiece; Karen Marshall (Baberton) 3 ½ and Belinda Murphy (Mortonhall) 3pt.
Midlothian's champion, Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) got all the tough ties - but lost only twice out in six outings and finished with one win and three halved ties. Midlothian had beaten Fife 6-3 on the opening day and drawn 1 ½-1 ½ with Midlothian on Day 2.
Midlothian complete the line-up for the four-corned Scottish county championship finals. Northern Counties, South and Lanarkshire had already book their places by winning their divisional titles.
The start of the Scottish finals - September 16 - clashes with the last day of the women's home internationals at Dundalk but, unlike Lanark who will almost certainly have two players (Clare Queen and Jenna Wilson) on international duty, Midlothian have no current international team members in their line-up.
Wednesday details:
FIFE 4½, EAST LOTHIAN 4½
Foursomes - L Kenney & J Carthew bt J Smith & S McMaster 2 and 1; L Bennett & B Copland lost to S McEwan & F Prior 3 and 2; K Milne & L Fury lost to K Brotherton & F Hindshaw 3 and 1 (1-2).
Singles - Kenney bt Brotherton 2 and 1, Carthew lost to McMaster 1 hole, D Ford lost to Prior 5 and 4, Fury halved with Smith, Copland bt Hindshaw 1 hole, Milne bt McEwan 3 and 2 (3½-2½)
STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN 2, MIDLOTHIAN 7
Foursomes - E Allison & F McArthur lost to K Blackwood & C MacDonald 5 and 3; A Davidson & V Stevenson lost to K Marshall & B Murphy 1 hole; N Melville & M Tough bt C Hargan & J Turner 2 and 1 (1-2).
Singles - Allison halved with Hargan, McArthur lost to Marshall 8 and 7; A Davidson lost to Blackwood 1 hole, Stevenson halved with W Nicholson, Tough lost to MacDonald 1 hole, Melville lost to Murphy 4 and 3 (1-5).
How they finished - 1 Midlothian 2 1/2pt, 2 East Lothian 2pt, 3 Fife 1½pt, 4 Stirling & Clackmannan 0 pt.
Midlothian are through to the Scottish county finals for the first time since 1988.They head for Ranfurly Castle in September as East Division champions after beating Stirling & Clackmannan 7-2 in their final match.
East Lothian, who were level with Midlothian at the top of the table at the start of the final day, were held to a 4 ½-4 ½ draw by Fife who had been seeking to win the divisional title for the third year in a row.
Fife had the player of the tournament in Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), winner of all six ties she played. But Midlothian had the strength in depth that mattered with both Kirsten Blackwood (Glencorse) and Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) earning 5pt apiece; Karen Marshall (Baberton) 3 ½ and Belinda Murphy (Mortonhall) 3pt.
Midlothian's champion, Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) got all the tough ties - but lost only twice out in six outings and finished with one win and three halved ties. Midlothian had beaten Fife 6-3 on the opening day and drawn 1 ½-1 ½ with Midlothian on Day 2.
Midlothian complete the line-up for the four-corned Scottish county championship finals. Northern Counties, South and Lanarkshire had already book their places by winning their divisional titles.
The start of the Scottish finals - September 16 - clashes with the last day of the women's home internationals at Dundalk but, unlike Lanark who will almost certainly have two players (Clare Queen and Jenna Wilson) on international duty, Midlothian have no current international team members in their line-up.
Wednesday details:
FIFE 4½, EAST LOTHIAN 4½
Foursomes - L Kenney & J Carthew bt J Smith & S McMaster 2 and 1; L Bennett & B Copland lost to S McEwan & F Prior 3 and 2; K Milne & L Fury lost to K Brotherton & F Hindshaw 3 and 1 (1-2).
Singles - Kenney bt Brotherton 2 and 1, Carthew lost to McMaster 1 hole, D Ford lost to Prior 5 and 4, Fury halved with Smith, Copland bt Hindshaw 1 hole, Milne bt McEwan 3 and 2 (3½-2½)
STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN 2, MIDLOTHIAN 7
Foursomes - E Allison & F McArthur lost to K Blackwood & C MacDonald 5 and 3; A Davidson & V Stevenson lost to K Marshall & B Murphy 1 hole; N Melville & M Tough bt C Hargan & J Turner 2 and 1 (1-2).
Singles - Allison halved with Hargan, McArthur lost to Marshall 8 and 7; A Davidson lost to Blackwood 1 hole, Stevenson halved with W Nicholson, Tough lost to MacDonald 1 hole, Melville lost to Murphy 4 and 3 (1-5).
How they finished - 1 Midlothian 2 1/2pt, 2 East Lothian 2pt, 3 Fife 1½pt, 4 Stirling & Clackmannan 0 pt.
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | 7:58:00 pm
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