North Yorkshire's Emma Duggleby was today battling to maintain England's vice-like grip on the Women's Home Internationals golf crown.

The England team, which includes the Malton and Norton star, swung right back into championship contention when they defeated Scotland 5-3 at the Berkshire Club in Ascot yesterday.

That meant that after Wales' surprise defeat of the Ireland team who, on the championships' opening day, vanquished England, all four countries started today's round of fixtures on a point apiece.

So Duggleby and the rest of her England colleagues have been given renewed hope that they can claim their tenth Home International triumph in the last 11 years.

Updated: 12:04 Friday, August 23, 2002