Fred Jewsbury thought it similar to Liverpool's comeback against Inter in Turkey but this was a sublime performance that will do wonders for this team and those in years to come - players held scores down when they were struggling, they shot sub par when they needed to and whilst several other teams had problems pre and during the qualifier, this win did not rely on others misfortune.

We simply played under par golf, as a team, exactly when we needed it, in the toughest format of all, one which has ruined many player's games. Every player from every team knew that when they stood on the tee that every shot counted.

At lunchtime we were 11 shots back from leaders Staffordshire -

Staffs 435

Leics & Rutland 437

Lincs 442

Warwickshire 446

Notts 449

Staffs would have to include an 85 in their pm scores, and knew of their demise half way through that final eighteen. Par for each round was 426 (6 rounds of 71) and little did our players know but County Captain Dave Westwood was being prompted that if we could total something around 430-432, we would have a chance. There was good news and some to worry about -

'I thought 11 back was do-able - we just needed a good solid performance from everyone in the team - nothing worse than a 75', said Westwood

Tom Ibbertson and Fred Jewsbury came past the focal point for several greens and tees (where everyone was gathered) over par - only just but at the point where many head to the high 70s.

Fred had posted a 72 in the morning, including 5 birdies and more mistakes, whilst Tom shot a 77, again with a few birdies and some golf he wasn't happy with.

There was better news from Chris Dougill, who had a notable caddy (more later). Chris was level and looking to shoot several better than his morning 76. He would only find two birdies all day so he was more Faldo like than he has ever been - but it was all counting towards cutting back that 11 shot lead, or more likely now the nine shots we were behind Leics.

Leics though were only going to post scores which included two 76s and a 77 and their 'icon' Greg Eason (who had led the qualifiers for the British Amateur). Eason would add a 72 to his best of the morning 67.

So the next challenge was Lincs and their No 1 player James Burnett was busy compiling a new course record 66 (to take the trophy for the best overall gross on the day with 137). We were dropping behind the most eastern county in the region.

However, Lincs were soon to find they would card a 75, 76 and a 77, so when Rob Browning turned for home and his final nine level par, we had recouped that advantage IF we kept our scores to the target set by our supporters.

We needed some sub-par golf and it looked like we were only going to get one such round. Sam Dodds went to the 10th tee -1 and looking the classiest golfer.

Last man out was Jamie Carney -

'I'm hitting it great off the tee but my irons and my putting are shocking', he said after 8 holes. Three holes later, and three birdies on the card and he went to his last seven -1.

As the cards came in, Tom Ibbertson matched the excellent 73 from Fred Jewsbury, Tom finding a ditch which was still dry on the 16th, playing out of it and parring in whilst Fred got up and down from a soggy bunker at the 9th.

Chris Dougill churned out par after par for his 71, which matched one of the two same score handed in by Lincs, and a shot better than two 72s which Leics were adding to their total.

Rob Browning was next in and his 70 left him level par for the day, and whilst he like all our players had left shots on the course, there was a growing feeling that we were heading towards the win.

Our penultimate score was a 69 from Sam Dodds who made only three bogies all day and then came the coup de grace as Jamie found a birdie at the 7th and 8th and put his signature to a 68.

It all added up to 424, -2 for the second round - and an 8 shot win over Lincs with Leics two shots further back. There have been sub par scoring in this event on easier courses and days but this was twelve shots better than any other total.

'My team was superb', said County Captain Dave Westwood, 'That the only way to describe what they did - it was a great day.'

There are a number of other people to mention - our Presidents present and past were there and there were caddies who really played their part -

Tom could not have his father Ian on his bag as Ian has a bad knee but it was a great early Father's Day present

Fred had his father John to offer 'sage' like advice all day

Charlie Higgins made a much welcome appearance on Sam's bag

Jamie likes sailing when he's not playing golf and he had on his bag a real wind expert in Mike Meakin

Rob asked old friend Neil Thomas to help him round and stop him from throwing any clubs

And Chris - he managed to enlist the services of World No 12 (soon be to Top 10) Andy Sullivan.

We won without our best player who missed the Berkshire trophy after his exertions at the British Amateur! Hopefully Andy can find time in his diary to make up the seven man team we will take to Ganton in late September. its barely 20 minuets from Scarborough so its a perfect excuse for a late Summer holiday as we will be trying to win the English County Championships for the first time in five years!

For a gallery of pictures from the day CLICK HERE

Full Results:

Warwickshire 446 - 424 - 870

Lincolnshire 442 - 436 - 878

Leics & Rutland 437 - 443 - 890

Staffordshire 435 - 452 - 887

Nottinghamshire 449 - 443 - 892

Derbyshire 450 - 447 - 897

Cambridgeshire 453 - 447 - 900

Northamptonshire 456 - 448 - 904

Worcestershire 453 - 451 - 904

Shropshire & Herefordshire 453 - 465 - 918