FOUR NEW CAPS IN BOYS HOME INTERNATIONALS SQUAD

England will field four new caps in their 11-strong squad for the Boys Home Internationals at Moortown, Leeds, on 7-9 August. Under the captaincy of David Porter (Stoneham), the newcomers are Ben Harvey (Dudsbury), Farren Keenan (Royal Mid Surrey), Peter Richardson (Eden), and Paul Waring (Bromborough).

The rest of the line-up is the team that finished third in the European Boys Team Championship in Poland last month - Porter, Simon Bell (Northcliffe), Scott Jackson (Bramall Park), Stephen Lewton (Woburn), Michael Skelton (Hunley Hall), and Daniel Wardrop (Didsbury) plus James Heath (Coombe Hill).

Although three of the new boys have earned honours at under-16 level, Harvey, 17, will be wearing the Red Rose for the first time in any competition. The Dorset youngster earns his call-up after winning the McEvoy Trophy in April and after being named as reserve for the World Boys Team Championship in Japan.

Keenan, 16, was a member of the Surrey side that won the Boys County Championship last year and played in the Under-16 International against Scotland at Brancepeth Castle. He recently won the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Classic at Nizels Golf Club in Kent.

Richardson, 17, also played against the Scots, finished fifth behind Harvey in the McEvoy, and, like his teammates, is a member of the School of Excellence.

Waring, 16, is the baby of the side and earned his first representative honour in the Under-16 International against Italy at Radcliffe on Trent last month. He was also reserve for the European Young Masters in Germany.

There are just three survivors from the team that won the Home Internationals at Portmarnock a year ago, Porter, Skelton and Wardrop, while Eren Behcet is a reserve this time along with Matthew Richardson, the highest placed English player in third spot in the recent Carris Trophy.

Despite their tender years, the side is packed with experience. Porter, 18, has been on the International scene since 1997, gaining a wealth of England honours. In the decisive third place play-off against Spain in Poland, the Hampshire teenager came from five down to win his match on the final green.

Heath, 18, earns a recall after playing in the 1999 Home Internationals in Wales before being plagued by injury last year. But he did help Surrey to win the Boys County Championship.

Jackson, 18, and Wardrop, who will celebrate his 18th birthday during the Home Internationals, led the strokeplay qualifying in the European in Poland, while Skelton has played in every England boys representative team this year.

England will be seeking their fourth win in a row at Moortown, having finished with the wooden spoon at Royal North Devon in 1997.

The full team is:

David Porter (Stoneham)
Simon Bell (Northcliffe)
Ben Harvey (Dudsbury)
James Heath (Coombe Hill)
Scott Jackson (Bramall Park) Farren Keenan (Royal Mid-Surrey)
Stephen Lewton (Woburn)
Peter Richardson (Eden)
Michael Skelton (Hunley Hall)
Daniel Wardrop (Didsbury)
Paul Waring (Bromborough)

Reserves:

Matthew Richardson (Pinner Hill)
Eren Behcet (Langley Park)