Ireland were left frustrated at the end of the 23rd World Amateur Team Championships in Kuala Lumpur as after a disappointing performance on Saturday, weather conditions yesterday prevented them from getting a chance to produce a late surge in the Malaysian capital.

Thunderstorms delayed the start of play for two and and a half hours yesterday and the championship committee decided only the top 20 teams would complete the fourth round. And with Ireland having plunged 16 places on Saturday to equal 28th this did not please their skipper Eddie Dunne, who said, "We had hoped to show what we are capable of in the last round but one cannot help the weather."

On Saturday, Justin Kehoe and Noel Fox both went round in 76 and Colm Moriarty had a discarded 79.

Earlier in the week Moriarty, the Athlone man, had taken 74 and 71, with Kehoe carding 77 and 73 and Portmarnock's Fox 78 and 76. "It certainly has not been a good week at the office - hugely disappointing, which is putting it mildly," said Dunne.

England, who had started the final day with high hopes of finishing in medal position could do no better than seventh, although at one time during the final round they were lying in third spot.

USA retained the Eisenhower trophy after a ding-dong battle with France. The lead changed hands several times but the holders eventually prevailed by three strokes, with Australia and the Philippines tying for third spot and taking bronze.