Women's Home Internationals: Defending champions Ireland made their intentions abundantly clear on the opening day of the four-cornered women's amateur home international series at Royal Porthcawl in South Wales yesterday.

Having won the crown on only three occasions they certainly do not intend to relinquish it without a real fight and they began their defence with a stirring victory over England by five matches to three with one halved.

And the heroine of a difficult afternoon was Dubliner Maura Morrin who was in the team which triumphed at Cruden Bay last September. With Ireland having won three foursomes it looked as though it might have been plain sailing but England were determined in the afternoon not to be humiliated.

Morrin who plays out of the Curragh was two down after six holes to rising Yorkshire star Naomi Edwards and she then suffered stomach cramp which required on-course physiotherapy delaying the game for around 10 minutes.

She recovered sufficiently to continue and indeed produced some inspired golf.

Morrin birdied the seventh - the shortest hole on the course - to reduce the defecit to one and then levelled matters at the 10th. After that she did not look back and went on to win three and two.

Although Ireland were 3-0 up after the foursomes they lost their way a little after lunch and at one time in the afternoon were not in front in any game. They then came good though and with Morrin and Vagliano Trophy player Tricia Mangan from Ennis winning they pulled through with some comfort.

Irish captain Sheena O'Brien Kenney was naturally delighted with the outcome. "I am very relieved it's over. They put up a great performance and the team spirit is fantastic. Maura was amazing how she kept going. Now we must get her back to the hotel and make sure she sees a doctor," said the captain.

In the other opening day fixture Scotland beat host nation Wales by six matches to two with one halved. Today Ireland meet Wales and Scotland clash with England.

Results - Ireland v England (Ireland names first) : Foursomes - M Gillen and T Mangan beat E Duggleby and N Edwards 2&1; C Coughlan and H Jones beat K Smith and L Ball 3&2; M Morrin and D Smith beat S Walker and A Marshall 3 and 2.

Singles - D Smith lost to K Smith 3&1; Coughlan lost to E Duggleby 6 and 5; Mangan beat J Ross 3 and 2; H Nolan halved with Sanderson; Morrin beat Edwards 3 and 2; Gillen lost to Walker 3 and 2.