* Britain and Ireland take sixth successive win
* Europe mount late fight back but lose by three points
VERSAILLES, France, Sept 18 (Reuters) – Britain and Irelandsurvived a gritty fightback by Continental Europe on Sunday toclinch golf’s Seve Trophy by three points.
Englishman Mark Foster finally ended a season ofdisappointments by making the decisive point in the penultimatematch in the closing day’s singles. his point gave the visitingside their sixth successive win, by 15-1/2 to 12-1/2.
” Brilliant in my first team event,” said Foster. “I sowanted to win it for the boys.”
Paul McGinley’s away team had threatened a runaway victorywhen they led by five points overnight, needing three more toprevail.
McGinley, though, had warned his team that the hosts -superior to Britain and Ireland in terms of world rankingpositions – would not lie down.
Jean Van de Velde’s Europeans, whose only win came in theinaugural 2000 version, refused to go quietly, winning the firstfive singles before the visitors stemmed the tide.
The continentals’ top man, Thomas Bjorn, with recentback-to-back tour wins to his name and the leader on Europe’sRyder Cup table, led the hosts’ revival by disposing of worldnumber two Lee Westwood 2 & 1.
Dane Bjorn was behind until the 11th but nosed in front onthe 14th and won by dint of a bogey by Westwood on the long17th.
Italy’s 2010 Ryder Cup player Francesco Molinari thencomfortably had the better of the previously unbeaten JamieDonaldson, coasting home 4 & 3 against the Welshman.
The next to fall for the visitors was another previouslyunbeaten player, England’s Simon Dyson. Last week’s Dutch Openwinner never got on terms with double European PGA championAnders Hansen and when the Dane matched Dyson’s desperateclosing birdie he shaved the match by one hole.
A 4 & 3 victory by Swede Alex Noren, winner of the earlyJune Wales Open over the Celtic Manor 2010 Ryder Cup course,over Englishman Robert Rock, brought Europe to within a point oftheir visitors.
When Miguel-Angel Jimenez defeated British Open championDarren Clarke 4 & 2, Britain and Ireland’s chances looked to bein trouble. Clarke’s ball found a watery grave on 16 and Europewere on level terms for the first time in the week.
A half by debutants Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium andEngland’s David Horsey preserved the status quo beforeScotland’s Scott Jamieson, a tour rookie, held off SpaniardPablo Larrazabal, four down after 10, by one hole to nose hisside in front.
The 2010 WGC Matchplay champion Ian Poulter birdied on thelast to seal a one-hole success against 18-year-old MatteoManassero, leaving Britain and Ireland needing only half apoint.
Foster, who has allowed three strokeplay victory chances toslip through his fingers this season, applied the coup-de-graceby overcoming Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin by a hole.
England’s 2009 World Matchplay champion Ross Fisher andSwede Peter Hanson then shook hands on a half, giving Europe theconsolation of a 6-4 singles win.
“I knew it wasn’t all over and I can’t say enough about myteam’s never-say-die spirit,” said McGinley. “What a fightbackit was by Jean’s team after being so far behind.”
Van de Velde said: “I’m very, very proud of my team forfighting back. my hat is off to them.”
(Editing by Clare Fallon. to comment on this story )
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