LADIES’ teams from Ireland, South Africa, the USA and Saudi Arabia were at the AIPC last weekend for the final leg of a two-day tournament in aid of TeenLine Ireland, the free phone and text service dedicated to teenagers.

The tournament earned support from Audi, House Dublin, Primark and Tinakilly Country House, raising funds for the charity of more than €12,000.

The 120 guests sheltered from the rain and wind, seeing little of the final between long-standing rivals Ireland and USA, while South Africa and Saudi Arabia faced off in the subsidiary final.

Ireland and USA had earned their berths in the first leg of the tournament while South Africa and Saudi Arabia each marked a loss.

Ireland’s win over the USA on a score of five goals to Ireland and two and a half from USA was hotly contested, with the USA on a handicap advantage of one and a half goals to nil.

The USA’s captain Liz Brayboy, Livi Alderman, Sinead Devine, Louisa Donovan and veteran alternate Eileen Flint held Ireland scoreless until the third chukka when a penalty free hit from Siobhan Herbst opened the Irish floodgates.

The team of captain Herbst, Sophie Patton, Jeanine Menendez, Derville Meade and alternate Elaine Monahan earned three goals in quick succession, giving away just one.

Driving rain and wind forced both teams to huddle together, seeking dubious shelter and the goals earned were largely on account of fouls.

While Ireland converted most of the penalties to goals, the USA struggled to earn any more than what was delivered back in the third chukka.

Two more goals for Ireland were delivered by Herbst, with one assisted by Sophie Patton.

“They didn’t give us an easy game at all, I mean we were hammered,” said Herbst, as the sponsored prizes were presented to the winning team. “The more we pushed it, the harder it was to keep going. It was a very, very difficult tournament.”

TeenLine education officer Carmel Kelly was delighted with the success of the fundraiser.

A silent auction for sealed bids on lucrative items and a raffle raising €20 per ticket sold and €50 for three tickets raised substantial sums, along with the entry fee of €90 per person.

“It has opened up TeenLine to a new audience,” said Carmel Kelly of the fundraiser, which was organised by Jackie Rafter in memory of her son Daniel Marsh. “It was fantastic. We were pleased with the turnout and it couldn’t have been better.”

Anne Biccard, Kayla Swart, Alida Vermaak and Courtney Soal of South Africa won the subsidiary final on a score of three and a half goals against the South African team of captain Melanie Deasy, Julie Kavanagh, Chloe Stebban, Elaine Beere and alternate Wendy Quinlan.

The USA’s Eileen Flint made it clear that she expects a return match when she spoke just after the prize presentations in the AIPC: “You are the best people in the world. “I have been playing in the ladies’ tournament right along and you all come out and support the ladies. I know we lost, and we will be back next year to kick their butts!”