HAMPSHIRE captain Colin Roope led his side to an emphatic 10 1/2 - 1 1/2 win against Kent at Shanklin and Sandown.

Roope sent out Conor Richards at the top of the singles order after the hosts had handed out a rare 4-0 whitewash in the morning foursomes.

Richards produced an imperious 29 over the front nine on his home course against Liam Burns as he wrapped up a 5&4 win – having helped Meon Valley’s George Saunders run out 4&2 winners over the visitors’ Dan Jones and Charlie Hickling in the final foursomes match of the morning.

After Billy McKenzie and his Rowlands Castle club-mate Tom Robson were both held for halves by Dan Brown and Max Jordan, respectively, Martin Young wrapped up the points with a 6&5 win over Jones.

The Rowlands Castle pair had kicked off the foursomes with a one-hole win over Burns and Brown. Shanklin’s Jordan Sundborg kept his match with Josh Bristow all square on the front nine.

The reigning county champion claimed the 10th and retained that lead over the final two holes to claim his second full point of the day, having teamed up with Young to beat Bristow and Jamie Guppy by one in the foursomes.

Saunders was three up at the turn against Guppy, and he won by four on the 15th.

Roope held out for a 2&1 win against Danny Curtis, having won his foursomes match 3&1 against Curtis and Jordan. That left Jason Stokes, who earned a half against Charlie Hickling.