England won the Home Internationals

[<<] [>>] by Samir Patel at Carrickmines, Dublin, Ireland
08/06/09 2009 (International)

England got off to a good start, racing to a 4-0 lead over Ireland in the first round of matches. The weather, which had started dry, but cold, gradually got colder and wetter and the matches that didn't finish early became rather attritional. Scotland eventually overcame Wales 3-2, with the remaining England/Ireland match halted at 1-1 to allow the second series to start.

Wales took an early lead against England, and build on that overnight position to win 3-2 (the Welsh wins were Burridge 2-1 v Mulliner, Evans 2-0 v Avery and Walters 2-0 v Patel). Ireland however regained some form to score a comprehensive win over Ireland, meaning that the event would be settled by a match-count from those teams on 2 wins after round three.

England, however, secured a comprehensive 4-0 win over Scotland (the final match was incomplete at 1-1) which, together with their 4-1 win over Ireland, was sufficient to retain the trophy. Mulliner's win over Aiton put England clear of both Scotland and Wales, and Patel's win over Hopgood finally closed out Irish hopes (although they went on to lose to Wales), and also ensured that Cunningham's walk-over against Avery (unfinished from the first round of matches) did not affect the final results.

1. England
2. Wales
3. Ireland
4. Scotland