1998

Perelada, Catalunya

Catalunya - Miguel Turner (captain), Esteve Varley, Jordi Pujol, Luis Guiskey

England - Paul Boross (captain), Jeremy Wilson, John Farren, Paul Baines

The English raiders enjoyed a good lunch on Friday, sitting comfortably on their plump 2 point cushion and watching their hosts poring over instructional manuals. Sadly for Varley and Pujol, the afternoon session meant another bloody mauling and an early bath.

Turner and Guiskey however, seemed determined to get their money's worth and they plodded their way through 16 strength sapping holes. And as dusk fell the match stood all square with the visitors looking increasingly ragged as they struggled to make out the hazards of this unfamiliar course in the gathering gloom. Following an overnight adjournment, the jet lagged visitors were caught cold by a dawn start and the Catalans took the match on the 18th

There was never really any doubt about the result of the first singles match out and sure enough Baines only required one more hole than the mathematical minimum to despatch Guiskey and put England into a 4 - 1 lead.

In order to take the trophy home, another ½ point was all that was required. But with both Farren and Boross struggling to stay with their respective opponents, it looked like the responsibility was going to fall to Wilson who had been pitted against Varley, arguably the Catalan's toughest match player.