AN EXUBERANT Irish side surged to a 4-2 victory over England to regain the Home Countries under 18 hockey laurels at Livingstone, Scotland, yesterday. It was the third time in four years that the title has been won and this was the most clear cut, even if Ireland were pegged back to 2-2 at half time.

While Justin Sherriff excelled in striking a hat trick, there were other particularly valuable performances by Andrew Chambers at right back and Graham Shaw in midfield, but the whole team played superbly.

England had beaten Scotland 8-1 (compared to Ireland's 2-1 defeat of the Scots), but this statistic was wiped out by the sheer pace of the Irish attack. The lead might well have come earlier but it was seized after 16 minutes when Sherriff finished off a cross by Gary Ringwood.

Although England responded with a short corner goal by Ashley Garratt, Ireland hit back again for Sherriff to score directly from a corner earned by Shaw. While a break by Daniel Haydon left an exhilarating game level at the interval, Ireland soon reasserted themselves.

Shaw again forced a short corner for Sherriff to deliver another direct strike in the 38th minute and a Sherriff run midway through the half yielded a long corner from which Philip King cracked home the fourth goal. Clarke Kennedy and his cohorts made sure there was no way back for England.

There was some frustration against the defiant Welsh on Saturday. It was only from seventh and eighth corners that Ringwood established a two nil half time lead. Then, although Ringwood swept his side's third goal in the first attack of the second period, total authority failed to materialise. The best wine was to flow instead at England's expense.

The under 16 title was decided on Saturday when England emerged as the most powerful side in a two goal win over Ireland.