Royal Portrush’s Gemma McMeekin was the star for the 12-strong Irish squad, winning her three matches at the Somerset venue as Portmarnock’s Adam Fahey and Ballyhaunis’s John William Burke also went undefeated.
The action began with six foursomes matches on Saturday morning and Ireland emerged as victors 2½ -3½ as Portmarnock’s Adam Fahey and John Moran beat Colne Valley’s Charlie Rusbridge and Bishops Stortford’s Ben Sessions 5&3.
McMeekin and her Royal Portrush club-mate Hannah Lee McNamara edged out Walton Heath’s Annabel Peaford and The Buckinghamshire’s Ellie Lichtenhein one-up to give Ireland a great start.
Glasson’s Isaac Oliver and Belvoir Park’s Eoin Burrows halved with Teesside duo Alex Boyes and Thomas Hartshorne before Ballyhaunis’s John William Burke and Clandeboye’s Harry O’Hara beat Ringway’s Cole Self and Gullane’s Cameron Mukherjee 4&3 to give Ireland the edge going into the first day’s singles.
That also turned out to be a good session for Ireland as they claimed a 6-6 draw to head into the final day singles with a 9½ -8½ advantage.
Moyola Park’s Kayleigh Mulholland, Fahey, and McNamara all claimed halved matches as Oliver, Burrows, McMeekin and Niamh O’Grady from Royal Dublin and Black Bush all closed out wins on the 18th.
The final day was a nailbiting affair with nine of the 12 singles matches going to the 18th in a 7½ -4½ reverse for the visitors.
England won the first five matches in the order as Charlie Rusbridge beat Burrows 2&1, Annabel Peaford beat McNamara 7&5, Mukherjee beat O’Hara 3&2, Minchinhampton’s Summer Carash edged out O’Grady 2-up and Boyes also claimed a close match by beating Oliver 1-up.
While Ella Cantwell won 2&1 and Burke claimed a halved match, the home side proved too strong despite wins from Mulholland, Fahey and McMeekin at the bottom of the order.
“We were delighted our players put in such a good performance on a great course,” said Boys’ coach Ian Kearney, who was joined for the match by Girls’ coach Michelle Carroll and managers Sara Rose Shelly and Liam Troy.
“Two very good teams fought out some very closely contested matches with our hosts just coming out on top. Well done to England and we look forward to the return fixture next year.”
England Golf Assistant Performance Manager Jamie O’Connor was delighted for the home side.
“It was a great morning for us on Sunday, as we managed to overturn the deficit and go on to win the competition in what was a fiercely competitive encounter,” he said
“The weekend was filled with some spectacular golf, with the two nations’ best young players on display. England Girls’ Summer Carash and Emily Peaford finished the weekend with unbeaten records across their three matches played, with Emily boasting three fantastic wins.
“Annabel Peaford, Ben Sessions and Cameron Mukherjee all managed to win both their singles matches, and it turned out to be a truly great weekend, played in tremendous spirit.
“Burnham and Berrow were a faultless host for the annual match between the two sides, and both are excited for the return fixture next year!”
Ireland v England U16 International, Burnham & Berrow GC Overall: England 18 – 16 Ireland Saturday Morning Foursomes: England 2½ – 3½ Ireland Charlie Rusbridge & Ben Sessions lost to Adam Fahey (Portmarnock) & John Moran (Portmarnock) 5&3; Annabel Peaford & Ellie Lichtenhein lost to Hannah Lee McNamara (Royal Portrush) & Gemma McMeekin (Royal Portrush) 1-up Alex Boyes & Thomas Hartshorne halved with Isaac Oliver (Glasson) & Eoin Burrows (Belvoir Park) Elizabeth Wilson & Summer Carash beat Niamh O’Grady (Royal Dublin) & Jessica Reynolds (Co. Sligo) 3&1 Cole Self & Cameron Mukherjee lost to John William Burke (Ballyhaunis) & Harry O’Hara (Clandeboye) 4&3 Emily Peaford & Lila Bisset beat Kayleigh Mulholland (Moyola Park) & Ella Cantwell (Esker Hills) 2&1 Saturday Afternoon Singles: England 6 – 6 Ireland Charlie Rusbridge halved with Adam Fahey Lila Bisset halved with Kayleigh Mulholland Cameron Mukherjee beat John Moran 1-up Annabel Peaford beat Ella Cantwell 3&2 Alex Boyes lost to Isaac Oliver 1-up Elizabeth Wilson lost to Niamh O’Grady 1-up Cole Self lost to Eoin Burrows 1-up Emily Peaford beat Jessica Reynolds 5&4 Ben Sessions beat Harry O’Hara 4&3 Summer Carash halved with Hannah Lee McNamara Thomas Hartshorne halved with John William Burke Ellie Lichtenhein lost to Gemma McMeekin 2-up. Sunday Morning Singles: England 7½ – 4½ Ireland Charlie Rusbridge beat Eoin Burrows 2&1 Annabel Peaford beat Hannah Lee McNamara 7&5 Cameron Mukherjee beat Harry O’Hara 3&2 Summer Carash beat Niamh O’Grady 2-up Alex Boyes beat Isaac Oliver 1-up Lila Bisset lost to Ella Cantwell 2&1 Cole Self halved with John William Burke Emily Peaford beat Jessica Reynolds 4&3 Ben Sessions beat John Moran 3&2 Elizabeth Wilson lost to Kayleigh Mulholland 2&1 Thomas Hartshorne lost to Adam Fahey 3&1 Ellie Lichtenhein lost to Gemma McMeekin 1-up.