West Sussex came from behind at Worthing to secure their first win in the Davies and Tate Trophy for 29 years.

Trailing 2.5-1.5 in the foursomes, they rallied to beat Mid Sussex 7.5-4.5.

Such was the strength of West Sussex's recovery that they won six of the eight singles to complete a memorable season in which they removed hot favourites and title defenders Worthing in the quarter-finals.

Myles Averns, the West Sussex captain, was not even born when the Pulborough club made an early impression in the Sussex Inter-Club Matchplay knockout, beating Worthing in 1972. Then the competition was under a different banner and had barely got off the ground.

The championship has grown enormously in popularity since Davies and Tate took over the sponsorship ten years ago. Clubs have come to regard the six-month long series as the culminating highlight of the season with hardly less interest focussing on the Plate.

As West Sussex quaffed their champagne, Ham Manor celebrated victory by 8.5-3.5 over Bognor Regis. This was the second Plate triumph for the Angmering club and their third appearance in the final.

The West Sussex team junketed long into the night although Averns had to be up for an early flight to Italy for a further celebration - his engagement.

Then, on Sunday morning, team manager Roy Froud took the trophy to Pulborough when it was agreed a formal ceremony will take place later.

The scenario at lunch saw Mid Sussex pleased to be in front but by no means counting chickens. Michael Foreman, the non-playing captain, retained a healthy respect for the opposition. This increased throughout the afternoon of fine weather and on a course in immaculate condition.

The balance shifted away from Mid Sussex as West Sussex won two of the first three matches, thus placing greater pressure on players further down the order. Here the issue was won and lost.

The most eagerly awaited head to head saw Martin Galway and David Alderson renew a friendly rivalry going back 20 years to their days at Hollingbury Park and, more recently, West Sussex.

They met twice in the Sussex Amateur and in the semi-final of the Dutch Championship. This time Galway came out tops for Mid Sussex by 6 & 5 and Alderson, as usual, generously acknowledged who was master on the day.

Steve Graham, in his farewell appearance to club and county golf, was another convincing Mid Sussex winner, by 4 & 3 over university student Jamie Donaldson. When they shook hands Graham, who takes over as secretary-manager of Littlehampton next month, was five under. "He was simply awesome," said an admiring Donaldson.

But after the big Mid Sussex guns fired there was nothing remaining in their locker. Winning the last four singles tipped the scales West Sussex's way and perhaps the real surprise was 17 year-old Ralph Kennedy, a Sixth Form College student in Horsham, trimming the greatly experienced John Newsome by 2 & 1.

A week earlier Kennedy played in America and he returned with his game finely honed and, importantly, showing no ill effects from being on the losing side in the foursomes when faced by Newsome.

Wisely, Froud gave him a shrewd old hand as a caddie in Dennis Punter. "Dennis' method was to give Ralph the club and then clear off quickly down the fairway so he couldn't change his mind," said Froud.

The ploy worked for Kennedy, unfazed by Newsome's massive hitting, only using a driver twice in the singles preferring to stay on the fairway with a long iron from the tee.

For a junior member such as Kennedy to come through so quickly has provided a filip for West Sussex. As John Spink, chairman of the Green Committee at Pulborough commented: "We aren't a club of retired major generals, admirals and air marshals...well, not entirely."

West Sussex's progress this season deservedly pointed them towards a third final as they accounted for Worthing with the last putt on the last hole. Indeed, Froud was spot-on: "It was a very strong team performance on our part and it was crucial that we got two points from the first four singles.

"As it turned out, the key match was between Kennedy and Newsome and Ralph was never behind. I think we had the greater depth and playing Gary Scarfield higher up the order was also an important plus for us."

Commented Myles Averns at the prize-giving: "Our defining moment was beating Worthing. Now, coming from behind shows we can win on a singles basis and, for the first time, we have more players than slots."