Ireland¿s Home International campaign went from bad to worse today as they suffered a comprehensive 4-1 foursomes defeat at the hands of England.
This morning's match at Royal St David's, Harlech became the wooden-spoon battle as neither country can now win the overall championship.
Portmarnock's Noel Fox and Clandeboye's Andrew McCormick were the only Irish pair able to put points on the board. England's top pairing of Gary Wolstemholme and Jamie Elson trounced Colm Moriarty and Justin Kehoe 6 and 5 in the top match.
Meanwhile Wales moved a step closer to winning their first title in the competition's 70-year history.
They led Scotland 3-2 after their foursomes match and now require another four and a half points from the afternoon singles to lift the Raymond Trophy.
Wales suffered an early morning blow when Nigel Edwards had to pull out through illness. His place was taken by Craig Smith and he and Stuart Manley went down by 4 and 3 to the 2001 European championship silver medallist Stuart Wilson and Jonathan King.
Foursomes results:
Ireland 1 England 4 (Irl names first)
C Moriarty and J Kehoe lost to J Elson and G Wolstenholme 6 and 5
K Kearney and S McTernan lost to G Clark and R Walker 4 and 3
N Fox and A McCormick bt O Wilson and D Skimms one hole
J McGinn and G Maybin lost to L Corfield and J Lupton 6 and 5
S Paul and P Dooley lost to R Finch and Y Ali 5 and 4
Wales 3 Scotland 2 (Wal names first)
C Smith and S Manley lost to S Wilson and J King 4 and 3
D Price and L Harpin bt S Carmichael and J Doherty 3 and 2
N Oakley and T Dykes lost A McArthur and G Gordon 2 and 1
G Wright and J Williams bt E Ramsay and S Jamieson one hole
A Smith and R Davies bt D Inglif and J McLeary one hole