RACHEL Connor and Kelly Tidy played a huge part as England battled back to beat Ireland 6-3 on the first day of the Girls' Home International at Panmure, near Carnoustie.

They trailed 2-1 after the foursomes but won five of the six singles, Manchester's Connor eclipsing Stephanie Meadow four and two and Tidy, from Bolton, making a fabulous birdie on the last hole to despatch Heidi Baek.

Team captain Julie Brown said: "They played so well, they were just fantastic. "It was their short game which won the match. Shot for shot these girls are all the same, but the chipping and putting of our team was excellent."

Tidy, a member at Dunscar and Royal Birkdale, linked up with Notts player Alex Peters to salvage the side's one point in the foursomes after being four down after seven, going ahead for the first time at the 16th.