THE first day of the two day Ireland Australia croquet challenge saw the visitors go 3-0 up after the doubles matches at Carrickmines yesterday.

The last time these countries met was in 1986 at the same venue. Indeed, the Australians are using this international as preparation for the McRobertson Shield croquet's equivalent of the World Cup which will be staged in England next week.

Denied the services due to exams of Alan McInerney and Charles Von Schmeider, who represented Ireland in last year's European championships, the Irish were whitewashed in two of the three games.