Ireland are on the brink of lifting the Boys Home International golf title after producing an admirable display to beat England over the Royal North Devon Course at Westward Ho yesterday.

Now they only have to share the honours with Wales today to carry off the title. England and Scotland, meanwhile, will be fighting it out in the wooden spoon battle.

Ireland and England yesterday shared the foursomes two matches apiece with one halved but then after the lunch interval the Irish sprinted clear to capture the singles 7-3 for an overall 9 1/2 5 1/2 triumph.

Ireland 9 1/2 England 5 1/2 (foursomes: D Jones and L Dalton bt P Rowe and O Wilson 1 hole, C Moriarty and M McDermott lost to C Mayson and D Griffiths 4 and 3, M Campbell and G McDowell halved with A Frayne and S Godfrey, R Symes and D Carroll bt M Dougherty and J Ellson 2 holes, M Hoey and M O'Sullivan lost to I Parnaby and P Whitehouse 3 and 2; Singles: M Campbell lost to Rowe 5 and 4. Jones bt Wilson 1 hole, McDowell halved with Frayne, Dalton bt Griffiths 4 and 3,. Moriarty lost to S Fromant 1 hole, Symes bt Mason 4 and 2, McDermott bt Elson 4 and 2, Carroll bt Dougherty 4 and 3, O'Sullivan halved with Parnaby, Hoey bt Whitehouse 2 holes). Other result: Wales 8 1/2, Scotland 6 1/2.