Britain and Ireland prevail

Paris - Great Britain and Ireland held off a spirited last day rally from Continental Europe to win the Vivendi Seve Trophy here on Sunday.

Paul McGinley's team went into Sunday's singles needing just three of the ten points on offer, but by midday at St-Nom-La-Breteche the scores were level at 11-and-a-half points apiece.

Great Britain and Ireland secured a thrilling victory after wins for rookie Scott Jamieson, Ian Poulter and Mark Foster, with the last match between Ross Fisher and Europe's Peter Hanson finishing all square.

The final result was Great Britain and Ireland 15-and-a-half Continental Europe 12-and-a-half.

Jean Van De Velde's Europeans put themselves right back in contention by winning Sunday's first five singles to square the match to give them hope of ending their 11 year wait for the trophy.

Thomas Bjorn led the fightback for Van De Velde's side, coming from three down to beat Lee Westwood 2 and 1.

The in-form Dane holed a 30 foot putt on the 14th to lead for the first time and when Westwood pulled his approach left in to thick rough on the 17th and duffed his first chip it was all over.

"It was just a case of hanging on and hanging on, but a couple of mistakes and it let me back in," said Bjorn, captain when Europe lost two years ago.

"I played some nice stuff near the end but it was a hard-fought battle," he added.

There were also gritty wins for Anders Hansen, by one hole against Simon Dyson, Francesco Molinari 4 and 3 against Jamie Donaldson, Alexander Noren 4 and 3 against Robert Rock and Miguel Angel Jimenez 4 and 2 against British Open champion Darren Clarke.

McGinley must have been hoping Clarke could stop the rot but the Northern Irishman had a round to forget against former Ryder Cup partner Miguel Angel Jimenez to leave the contest perfectly balanced.

At this stage both sides needed three points from the last five matches, all of which went to the final hole on a nailbiting day.

But McGinley's lower order then came good, with David Horsey taking a half a point from his match-up with Nicolas Colsaerts.

Jamieson then beat Pablo Larrazabal by one hole, with Poulter denying Matteo Manassero by the same margin and Mark Foster defeating Raphael Jacquelin also by one hole.

Poulter's point left Europe only needing a half and Mark Foster guaranteed exactly that by going one up on Jacquelin at the 17th.

The veteran held on at the last for the victory-clinching win.

It feels amazing and I'm pleased for the boys," said Foster.

"I was playing really well and then lost the pace of green for four or five holes and I left Raphael back in and I knew I was in for a game then and I had to refocus.

"It would have hurt a lot if we hadn't won today and I'm glad to pull through."

Scores on Sunday from the Vivendi Seve Trophy at the 6 983-yard, par-71 golf course of Saint-Nom-la-Breteche:

BRITAIN & IRELAND 15, CONTINENTAL EUROPE 12

Sunday's Singles: Continental Europe 6, Britain and Ireland 4

Thomas Bjorn, Continental Europe, def. Lee Westwood, Britain and Ireland, 2 and 1.

Anders Hansen, Continental Europe, def. Simon Dyson, Britain and Ireland, 1 up.

Francesco Molinari, Continental Europe, def. Jamie Donaldson, Britain and Ireland, 4 and 3.

Alexander Noren, Continental Europe, def. Robert Rock, Britain and Ireland. 4 and 3.

Miguel Angel Jimenez, Continental Europe, def. Darren Clarke, Britain and Ireland, 4 and 2.

Nicolas Colsaerts, Continental Europe, halved with David Horsey, Britain and Ireland.

Scott Jamieson, Britain and Ireland, def. Pablo Larrazabal, Continental Europe, 1 up.

Ian Poulter, Britain and Ireland, def. Matteo Manassero, Continental Europe, 1 up.

Mark Foster, Britain and Ireland, def. Raphael Jacquelin, Continental Europe, 1 up.

Peter Hanson, Continental Europe, halved with Ross Fisher, Britain and Ireland.