Boys suffer third defeat in Ireland

SCOTLAND'S golfers suffered their third straight defeat and had to settle for the wooden spoon in the Boys' Home Internationals at Royal County Down.

The Scots, who had already lost to defending champions England and host nation Ireland, lost 9-6 to Wales in the closing match.

Trailing 3-2 after the morning foursomes, national boys' matchplay champion Michael Stewart provided a lift with a 2 and 1 win over the previously unbeaten Ben Enoch in the top singles clash.

Aberdeen's David Law pitched in with a one-hole victory over Oliver Lewis but defeats for Paul Shields, Kyle Smith and Chris Robb left Scotland trailing. Despite another win for Colin Thomson and half points from James Ross and Mark Bookless, further defeats for Stuart Ballingall and Andrew McLachlan condemned the Scots to last place.

In a dramatic championship decider, Ireland ended an 11-year title drought with a battling 8-7 win over holders England to lift the R&A Trophy for the first time since 1997.