Scots seniors can only draw with Wales

European champions Scotland made a faltering start to the defence of the Senior women's home internationals title at Sheringham Golf Club, Norfolk today.
They were held to a 4-4 draw by Wales, who did not send a team to the European over-50s championship, while England thrashed Ireland 7-1.
Last year, Scotland beat Wales 5 1/2-2 1/12 while Ireland drew 4-4 with England.
The Scots trailed 2-1 after the foursomes and won the singles 3-2, not a big enough margin to win the day.
St Andrews hotelier Fiona De Vries (St Rule), pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, had a good 4 and 2 win over former Curtis Cup player Vicki Thomas in the top singles. The Scots' other singles winners were Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie) and Noreen Fenton (Dunbar).
It was Anderson's second win of the day. She teamed up earlier with Lorna Bennett to score Scotland's only foursomes success.
Preferred lies are in operation as there has been so much rain in the Norfolk area in recent weeks that worms coming to the surface has become a problem.
FIRST-DAY RESULTS

SCOTLAND 4, WALES 4

Foursomes: M Smith and M Thomson lost to V Thomas and J Rees 4 and 2; H Anderson and L Bennett bt J Doleman and L Fleet 2 and 1; F De Vries and A Ryan lost to A Lewis and D Richards 2 holes (1-2).

Singles: De Vries bt Thomas 4 and 2, Smith lost to Rees 3 and 2, Anderson bt O Davies 2 holes, Ryan lost to Lewis 1 hole, N Fenton bt Richards 3 and 2 (3-2).
ENGLAND 7, IRELAND 1
Foursomes: C Marron and C Quinn bt H Jones and P Doran 2 and 1; J Melville and F Christine bt V McBride and M MacNamara 4 and 2, J Ashmore and R Adams bt S McElroy and P O'Gorman 1 hole (3-0).
Singles: Marron bt Jones 4 and 3, Quinn bt N Giblin 3 and 2, Melville bt McBride 6 and 4, Ashmore lost to Doran 4 and 3, S Dye bt McElroy 1 hole (4-1).


+For reports on all all the matches, log on to the Ladies Golf Union website, www.lgu.org