Squires heroics in vain for England

GOLF: ALAN Squires produced an inspired display for England in the ninth Senior Home Inter-nationals — but the team had to settle for second place behind Ireland.

The Oldham Golf Club member was unbeaten in his six matches, winning five and halving the other, at Crail in Scotland.

Squires, who helped England win the European Senior Team title in August, paired with Roy Smethurst to defeat Ireland’s Maurice Kelly and Adrian Morrow three and two. He also beat Kelly in the singles by one hole, but England lost the match 6-3.

Against Scotland, Squires and Smethurst got the better of David Gardner and Tony Stafford by two holes. He went on to defeat Gardner five and four in the singles for an overall 5.5-3.5 victory.

The partnership of Squires/Smethurst had to make do with half-a-point at the end of their match with Keith Stimpson and Basil Griffiths, of Wales.

But Squires, who lifted the English Seniors title earlier in the year, was back in the winning groove with an emphatic six and five victory over Stimpson in the singles.

England won the match 5.5-3.5, but it wasn’t enough to clinch the overall championship, Ireland topping the table with a 100-per-cent record.