Europe close gap going into singles

Britain and Ireland clung on to take a two-point lead over Continental Europe into the final day of the Seve Trophy.

The Europeans, despite Seve Ballesteros's personal struggles, cut the gap from three to two points in the morning at El Saler before Britain and Ireland halved the afternoon foursomes to stay ahead 10-8.

The Ryder Cup-style encounter concludes with 10 singles on Sunday, with Britain and Ireland needing 4-1/2 points to retain the title.

"It was a very tough day out there," said Britain and Ireland skipper Colin Montgomerie. "I think we got out of jail a little bit this morning."

Ballesteros's poor form continued in the morning greensomes -- where both players from each team drive off before playing on with the better ball -- as he and Sergio Garcia crashed three and one to the in-form Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter.

Westwood won his third match in a row -- although he was to lose for the first time in the afternoon foursomes -- while European captain Ballesteros rested himself after lunch following three defeats out of three.

Germany's Alex Cejka and Raphael Jacquelin of France, meanwhile, continued their impressive 100 percent record by beating England's Brian Davis and Paul Casey three and two in the morning before seeing off Westwood and David Howell in the afternoon five and three.

Cejka and Jacquelin have been paired together throughout the competition.

Europe got to within a point of their rivals with one match remaining before Englishmen Justin Rose and Poulter beat Thomas Bjorn and Garcia two and one, Rose making sure of victory with a four iron to two feet at the 213-yard 17th.

Continental Europe won the inaugural competition at Sunningdale in England but Britain and Ireland levelled the series last year at Druids Glen in Ireland.

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