\n<\/p>\n
Great Britain and Ireland defeated the Continent of Europe to seal a first Vagliano Trophy victory since 2005.<\/b><\/p>\n
Following the Curtis Cup win over the United States last September, the GB&I women again held their nerve in the biennial match, winning 12\u00bd-11\u00bd at the Royal Hague Golf & Country Club in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
Led by non-playing captain Maria Dunne, GB&I found themselves trailing by one heading into the singles with Europe claiming two early wins.<\/p>\n
However, the GB&I team fought back with the English trio of Patience Rhodes, Nellie Ong and Isla McDonald-O’Brien all scoring wins before Ireland’s Aine Donegan and another England player, Sophia Fullbrook, took GB&I over the winning line in a remarkable finish to claim a first win in 20 years.<\/p>\n
“It’s been an unbelievable day,” said Dunne.<\/p>\n
“I said to the team early this morning that I had a really good feeling about today. They did the job in the foursomes, momentum went our way and they just fought. I told them last night ‘just keep fighting, keep fighting for every single point or half point’ and that’s exactly what they did.”<\/p>\n
Rhodes, Donegan, Beth Coulter, Lottie Woad and Hannah Darling were all part of the team which won the Curtis Cup and all played their part once again.<\/p>\n
Woad and Coulter lost to Paula Martin Sampedro and Carolina Lopez-Chacarra Coto respectively, but things began to turn GB&I’s way with Ong’s 6&5 victory, and McDonald-O’Brien edged out Camille Min-Gaultier 2&1 to pull the visitors closer, before Rhodes delivered another crucial point with a two-hole triumph over France’s Sara Brentcheneff.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n