Taking on the Italians in their own back yard has always been seen as an enormous match fishing challenge, but the 2015 Div 1 champions Daiwa Dorking not only ‘handled the heat’ on the Circondariale Canal in Ostellato (San Marino) but did so by winning both days with 11 and 12 points, beating 27 other countries.

Bream were central to success and the pool of knowledge throughout the Dorking team, including Will Raison, saw them edge past what was certainly top quality opposition.

Italy ran them very close to take second with 27 points and Hungary third with 44 points. Underlining their fantastic win, Dorking also carded the biggest team weight of almost 113kg with 421 fish, which was only three fish behind the highest number from Belgium who were actually down in 14th.

Tremendous congratulations to captain Steve Sanders and the team from everyone at Daiwa.