West Hove, 3-1 up in the foursomes, achieved a hard fought win by 6,-5, over Singing Hills at Albourne with team captain Steve Nielsen having a day he won't forget in a hurry.

"We didn't expect to win", he said after twice holding out from off the green. The pivotal foursomes win was delivered by Ian Poysden and Paul Guy who were two down with four to play and won on the last hole.

Nielsen said: "That sent us in 3-1 up instead of level and was absolutely crucial."

Singing Hills hit back hard, Poysden losing by one hole to Paul Gray after Paul Guy and Steve Franks halved. Russell Cronin, 17, excelled himself by a narrow win over experien-ced Simon Stoner only for Simon Adby and Richard Simpson to put West Hove under renewed pressure.

The West Hove camp was still buzzing over the foursomes win by Nielsen and Tim Marshallsay that ended Adby's 100 per cent D and T record. The West Hove pair were one up at the 15th and not looking well placed when Adby split the fairway with a perfect drive.

Then Franks put his partner only eight foot below the hole while Marshallsay left Nielsen in a greenside bunker on wet sand. Unflustered, Nielsen holed out for a birdie and Adby missed to send West Hove on the way to a 3 and 2 shaker.

In his match with Roy Priestley, he was three down at one stage and had narrowed the deficit to two at the 13th. There Priestly produced a wonderful second shot that clipped the pin and dropped to within a couple of feet.

"Get inside that" called a home supporter to Nielsen who was in light rough and fingering his sand iron. He did just that, holing out for an eagle from 90 yards retorting, as the ball flew dead straight, "I think you'll find that I have". Inspired Nielsen went on to win by one hole.