Scotland v Spain
Scotland made it third time lucky at rain-lashed Glasgow Gailes yesterday when they trounced Spain 14 1/2-9 1/2 in their biennial international friendly.
Two years ago the Spaniards won the corresponding fixture in Valderrama and last summer they also came out on top in the final of the European Team championship in Portmarnock against the Scots.
However yesterday in dreich Ayrshire it was a different story as the Scots maintained their five- point overnight lead, sharing the day's play 6-6 to run out comfortable winners.
With two points needed from the eight final singles, Walker Cup man Graham Rankin laid the foundations for victory with a 5 and 3 thrashing of Oscar Sanchez before Lorne Kelly ensured the home side could not lose with a half against Raul Quiros.
It was then left to 1995 Scottish Amateur champion Simon Mackenzie to provide the winning point with a 3 and 2 success over Alvaro Mata.
''Having lost both my matches yesterday it was nice to take two out of two today,'' said Mackenzie. ''But it wasn't pleasant playing conditions and at times it was more about survival than anything else.''The win for Rankin was particularly satisfying as, in the European final against the Spaniards, he was on the verge of beating Sanchez in extra holes before the match was called a half with the contest over as a whole elsewhere.
The success also meant that the brickie's labourer emerged from the two days as Scotland's top points scorer with three and a half out of four with Ewan Forbes and Graham Fox next best with three.
''I knew I would have beaten Sanchez in Ireland so it was nice to get the chance to finish the job here. I knew I was hitting the ball well and if I kept plugging away I'd get the rewards,'' said Rankin.
Scotland captain Colin Wood said: ''It was a hard day's work out there but winning points are always the hardest ones to come by. I must admit I was a wee bit edgy for a while this afternoon but it's good to have avenged our two previous defeats.'' Results:
Foursomes - L Kelly (Cowal) and G Fox (West Kilbride) lost to S Garcia and O Sanchez, 2 and 1; C Watson (East Renfrewshire) and A Farmer (Kilmacolm) halved with V Fernandez Grande and R Quiros; G Rankin (Palacerigg) and E Forbes (Turriff) halved with J Cestino and A Mata; S Mackenzie (West Linton) and D Patrick (Mortonhall) beat A Larrazabal and A L Saura, 4 and 2.
Foursomes result - Scotland 2, Spain 2.
Singles - Watson lost to Garcia, 2 and 1; Rankin beat Sanchez, 5 and 3; Kelly halved with Quiros; Patrick lost to Fernandez Grande, 1 hole; Farmer lost to Larrazabal, 3 and 2; Forbes halved with Saura; Mackenzie beat Mata, 3 and 2; Fox beat Cestino, 2 holes.
Singles result - Scotland 4, Spain 4.
Match result - Scotland 141/2, Spain 91/2.
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