The passage of holders West Hove into the second round of theDavies and tate Trophy was harder than the 7,-4, win at Seaford Head suggested.

After the foursomes, the host club led 2,-1, and West Hove went to lunch relieved at having been let off the hook.

Richard Wise and Aaron Smith, 14, were only ten yards short of the green at the long 18th in two.

But a fluffed chip by Aaron and further indecision allowed the West Hove pair, Tom Coulson and Gareth Hall, who had twice been in rough on the hole, to win it with a par.

It gave West Hove a valuable half and the defending champions never looked back.

Steve Nielsen, West Hove's captain, said: "The foursomes were horrendous for us."

Only Nielsen and partner Russell Cronin were among West Hove's morning winners, by 5 and 3 over Ian Goddard and Rich Wood.

The singles were a different story, West Hove winning six out of eight with Cronin scoring a hole in one on the tricky 12th.

A nine iron did the trick and Cronin collected the second ace of his short career in the top flight of county golf. The first was three years ago at East Brighton's fourth.

He said: "As the hole is uphill and you cannot see the green from the tee, I didn't know the ball had gone in until there was a yell from people up the top. Apparently the shot hit the bank on the left and rolled down into the cup."

Paul Kavanagh, his opponent, was helpless as Cronin fired an eight-under par burst from the ninth to the 14th that comprised ace, eagle and four birdies.

The start of the round was inauspicious as he made double bogey at the par four second before he stormed to a 6 and 4 victory.

Predictably, England junior Paul Jones was the only Head player to win both his matches.

Club champion Martin Landless had a great tussle with Raoul Ellis, the senior West Hove member, and the match finished on the last in Ellis's favour.