PARKSTONE’S Sophie Keech helped England retain the Stroyan Cup after being involved in one of the most epic matches in the Girls’ Home Internationals at St Annes Old Links in Lancashire.

The 17-year-old, who was making her debut in the competition, contributed two-and-a-half points as England lifted the trophy for a sixth year in succession.

Keech held her nerve on the opening day to claim a narrow one-hole victory over Chloe Williams in the singles as England toppled Wales 7-2.

And although she tasted defeat with Alice Hewson in the foursomes against Scottish pair Clara Young and Tara MacTaggart on day two, she responded with a convincing win over one of her conquerors in the singles.

Keech, the reigning English Girls’ Open and English Schools’ champion, overpowered MacTaggart 5&4 to help England cancel out Scotland’s two-point lunchtime lead, her exploits pivotal to a 5.5-3.5 overall success.

However, despite halving her foursomes match on the final day with Hewson, it was an encounter which will surely live long in the memory for Keech.

Trailing four down to Ireland’s Mary Doyle and Olivia Mehaffey with just five holes remaining, the English pair drew on all their powers of recovery to launch an astonishing comeback.

Having been three down on no fewer than three occasions, Keech and Hewson won the 15th to a concession before closing with three successive birdies to salvage what had appeared an unlikely share of the spoils.

Girls’ Home Internationals result: England 16.5, Ireland 13.5, Scotland 12.5, Wales 11.5.