ENGLAND were trailing the French by 3½ points after the first day but a superb team performance on day two saw the NFA – Drennan Team England superstars race to a spectacular victory with 34 point total leaving the French stranded 12 ½ points behind and in second place with a total of 46 ½ points.
England’s former world champion, Alan Scotthorne from Doncaster, was in top form winning his section on day one and finishing third the following day. Overall, Scotthorne was pushed into third place on weight difference by Dutch angler Bert Aufderhaar, who also had a 1 + 3 points tally but finished with a total weight of 9.660 kg to Scotthorne’s 7.700 kg.
Top individual was Didier Guessard (France) who claimed 1 ½ points on the first day and won his section on day two to return a total of 2 ½ points and a total weight of 3.600 kg.
England’s performance on day two was stunning; a 14 point score left them 16 points clear of France on the day and 12 ½ points ahead overall.
Coach Mark Downes said: We fished a 7 metre and 14m line using bloodworm, joker and casters and put seven balls of Sensas Terre dereviere (Riverlean) into the swim to tempt skimmers and good bream. Once we sorted ourselves out we showed the other 24 teams a clear pair of heels.
Teams: 1/ Drennan Team England 34 points: 2/ France 46 ½: 3/ Holland 64: 4/ Hungary 68: 5/ Belgium 72:
Individuals: 1/ Didier Guessard, France, 2 ½ points (3.600kg) 2/ Bert Aufderhaar, Holland, 4 pts, 9.660 kg: 3/ Alan Scotthorne, England, 4 pts, 7.700 kg.