O'Sullivan concedes her side were just outclassed

Curtis Cup: Ada O'Sullivan was brutally honest after watching her Britain and Ireland side crash to their heaviest Curtis Cup defeat for 16 years.

"We were simply outclassed and outplayed," conceded the captain from Monkstown. "The foursomes pairings on the first day did not gel, the wind did not get up as we would have liked and we are obviously very disappointed."

But despite an 11½-6½ mauling over the Bandon Dunes course in Oregon, the skipper does not believe that changing the squad's make-up to include other European nations, as in the Ryder Cup, would be the answer.

"That is not the way forward. There is plenty of talent in Britain and Ireland," she added.

But she did welcome the decision announced yesterday that the format would change to that used in the Ryder Cup, with foursomes and fourballs on the first two days and every team-member playing in the final-day singles.

"That will be absolutely superb. I feel it is very unfair to the players at the moment to expect them to reach the top of their form in two days. It is fantastic news," said O'Sullivan.

And she predicted that when the change takes affect in two years at St Andrews things will be very different. "There will be either a Britain and Ireland win or a very much closer affair. I believe there are most certainly good enough players, and three days will give the chance for them to shine."

The USGA women's committee and the LGU reached a decision about the format over the weekend.

"Another day of competition will add to the excitement," said women's committee chairman Marcia Luigs, and LGU chairman Pamela Chugg endorsed those sentiments.

Trailing 7-2 after the first day on the magnificent but daunting course overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the visitors had a mountain to climb, but the second foursomes session brought them a glimmer of hope when they won two of the three matches and halved the other, reducing the deficit to three with six singles remaining. The Irish trio of Tricia Mangan,Tara Delaney and Martina Gillen all played their part.

And for a moment on the final afternoon it looked just possible that they could pull off a Houdini act when they led in four of the matches and were level in another.

But on the homeward stretch it all changed and in the end only Breanne Loucks, the Welsh international who had a 100 per cent record on her debut, and Beaverstown's Gillen won their games. Mangan and Delaney both collapsed late on, and Melissa Reid and Naomi Edwards had a nightmare, particularly on the back nine.

Gillen produced a splendid performance to beat 42-year-old veteran Virginia Grimes 3 and 2.

Cork's Claire Coughlan, unbeaten at Formby two years ago, was out of sorts on Saturday, losing both her games, so she did not take part on Sunday.

Gillen says the experience at Bandon was the best of her life.

"Everybody gave 120 per cent and it's been fantastic. Disappointing, of course, that we lost."

DAY ONE (Britain and Ireland first) - Foursomes: T Mangan, K Matharu lost to P Mackenzie, A Blumenherst 5 and 4; M Gillen, N Edwards lost to V Grimes, A McCurdy 2 holes; C Coughlan, M Reid lost to J Park, T Leon. Result: Britain and Ireland 0 US 3. Singles: Matharu bt J Suh 2 and 1; Gillen lost to J Lee 4 and 3; B Loucks bt Blumenherst 5 and 4; M Reid lost to P Mackenzie 3 and 2; T Delaney lost to Park 3 and 2; Coughlan lost to Leon 5 and 4. Result: Britain and Ireland 2 US 4. Day One Score: Britain and Ireland 2 US 7.

DAY TWO - Foursomes: T Mangan, T Delaney halved with J Park, T Leon; M Reid, B Loucks bt J Lee, J Suh 7 and 5; M Gillen, N Edwards bt P Mackenzie, A Blumenherst one hole. Result: Britain and Ireland 2½ US ½. Singles: Gillen bt V Grimes 3 and 2; Loucks bt A McCurdy 3 and 2; Mangan lost to Mackenzie 1 hole; Edwards lost to Leon 5 and 4; Reid lost to Lee 3 and 2; Delaney lost to Park 3 and 2. Result: Britain and Ireland 2 US 6.

Match Result: Britain and Ireland 6½ US 11½.