DORSET put up a brave show before losing out as Lancashire squeezed into a title showdown with Sussex for the English Senior Men’s County Championship.

The Northerners were held to a draw by a resurgent Dorset team after a dramatic second day’s play at Stanton-on-the-Wolds Golf Club.

Dorset bounced back in style after a heavy 8.5-0.5 defeat on the opening day to Sussex and Lancashire had to pull out all the stops after Dorset threatened to derail their progress.Meanwhile, Sussex kept up their winning ways with a 5.5-3.5 win over the host county, Nottinghamshire.

The results so far give Sussex two wins from two matches and means they head into tomorrow’s finale knowing that a halved result will be enough to claim the trophy for the first time.

Lancashire had to pull out all the stops after Dorset threatened to derail their progress.

The south west champions took 2.5 points from the three morning foursomes, claiming the first one comfortably (5/4) and then holding their nerve to win another the last and finally to snatch a half, having been three down after 12.

Dorset kept up the pressure in the singles, notably over the front nine, and Lancashire needed all their determination and experience to force the half.

The first two singles results were both comfortable wins, with each county in turn taking a point.

Then it was time for grit. Lancashire’s Tony Flanagan and Tony Holt both trailed over the front nine, both pulled it back, both edged ahead, and both were finally held to halved results by their Dorset opponents, respectively David Barton and Ashley Beckett.

It gave Dorset a guaranteed half in the match and Lancashire depended on a strong finish. It was delivered by British Senior champion Trevor Foster (4/2) and his immediate predecessor, Bryan Hughes, (1up).

Dorset captain Phil Addis was delighted with his team’s comeback. “We just didn’t get out of the starting block in our first game, but the lads have done us proud and, for a small county like Dorset, this is a great result.”