Ireland v England in semi-finals of

European girls' team championship

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Ireland have beaten Belgium to make it safely thorugh to tomorrow's semi-finals of the European girls' team championship at Kokkola, Finland.
The Irish girls, the leading qualifiers for the match-play stages, made a perfect start to the tie against Belguim, claiming convincing wins in both morning foursomes matches.
The phenomenal Maguire twins, Lisa and Leona (Slieve Russell) secured a comfortable 4 and 3 victory while Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) and Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) followed with a 6 & 4 win.
Ireland now only required one point from the three afternoon singles matches and despite defeat for Lisa Maguire in the top match, sister Leona once again rose to the challenge and claimed victory by a margin of 4 & 2. This win gave Ireland the single point required and subsequently Stephanie Meadow, who led in her match at the time, was called in under the halved match custom which prevails in these European championships.
This 3 ½ -1 ½ win sees the Irish Under-18s team progress to the semi finals of the championship in which they will take on England for a place in Saturday's final.
Scotland were well beaten 3-0 by France in a Flight B match.
Sammy Leslie (Westhill) and Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) went down by 2 and 1 in the only foursomes tie to the French pair of Ines Lescudier and Perrine Delacour.
The singles also went way of France who were able to field two very experienced international competitors in Emilie Alonso and Rosanna Crepiat. Emilie beat Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) by 2 and 1 while Rosanna was a 7 and 6 winner over Lesley Atkins (Minto).

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Quarter-finals
IRELAND 3 1/2, BELGIUM 1 1/2
Foursomes: Lisa Maguire & Leona Maguire bt Lauren van Gerven & Laura Christiaens 4 and 3' Laura McCarthy & Stephanie Meadow bt Manon de Roey & Margaux Vanmol 6 and 4 (2-0).
Singles: Lisa Maguire lost to Lauren van Gerven 2 and 1, Leona Maguire bt Vanmol 4 and 2, Meadow halved De Roey (1 1/2-1 1/2).

ENGLAND 4, SWITZERLAND 1.
Foursomes: Kelly Tidy & Heidi Baek bt Sherlyn Popelka & Nina von Siebenthal 3 and 2; Alexandra Peters & Hayley Davis bt Olivia Birrer & Cylia Dameron 1 hole (2-0).
Singles: Tidy bt Birret 7 and 6, Peters halved with Popelka, Davis halved with Dameron (2-1).

SWEDEN 4, FINLAND 1.

SPAIN 3, CZECH REPUBLIC 3.

Flight B
FRANCE 3, SCOTLAND 0.
Foursome: Ines Lescudier & Perrine Delacour bt Sammy Leslie & Ailsa Summers 2 and 1 (1-0).
Singles: Emilie Alonso bt Rachael Watton 2 and 1; Rosanna Crepiat bt Lesley Atkins 7 and 6 (2-0).

AUSTRIA 3, DENMARK 0.

NETHERLANDS 3, WALES 0.
Foursome: Karin Jansen & Krista Bakker bt Natasha Gobey & Chloe Williams 3 and 1 (1-0).
Singles: Ileen Domela Nieuwenhuis bt Katie Bradbury 1 hole, Celine Kortekaas bt Kelly Miller 6 and 4 (2-0).

GERMANY 3, NORWAY 0.

Flight C
LATVIA 2, GREECE 1