Ireland took a slender 4 1/2-3 1/2 lead over Wales on the first day of the Boys' international at the Island yesterday.

With three members of last year's European Championship winning side on duty, the Irish boys took three of the top four matches but had to wait until the last match of the day to ensure their lead, when Darren Crowe, from Dunmurry, came from two down with two to play against Mark Anderton to snatch a vital half point for Ireland.

Sean McTernan won the top match 2 and 1 against Gareth Bennett and Connemara's Derek McNamara was an impressive 4 and 3 winner over David Price.

Leinster's only representative on the team, Paul McDonald, from Old Conna, never put a foot wrong in an impressive 5 and 4 win over Garth Dobson-Jones.

James McCracken turned two up on his way to a 4 and 3 win over Robert Narduzzo and in an exciting finish to the first day, Crowe won the last two holes to give Ireland their slender lead

Earlier, Mervyn Owens had made a great fight-back against Ryan Thomas, only to lose on the 18th. Owens was three down after four but came back to square the match on the ninth. However, he lost the 16th to a par three and Thomas held out for a one hole win.