Brilliant England defend their titles at European Team Championships

England continued their domination of the European Team Championships by defending their men's and women's titles in contrasting styles in Amsterdam.

England's men lifted the trophy for the 46th time following a drama-packed duel with first-time finalists Switzerland at the Frans Otten Stadion which went down to the wire.

Earlier, the women sealed their 44th title with a match to spare against France after Jasmine Hutton battled past brilliant 18-year-old Lauren Baltayan and Georgina Kennedy eased past Marie Stephan.

The men's final was a classic, beginning with Swiss no.3 Yannick Wilhelmi defeating world no.44 Patrick Rooney 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 11-7 - but that one game gained was later to prove crucial.

Former world no.3 Marwan ElShorbagy then took on fellow showman Dimitri Steinmann and it was a thrilling duel which the Englishman took 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6, settling it with a typically outrageous thrashed forehand nick.

That set up Sam Todd, making his England senior debut at this event, against 20-year-old David Bernet. Yorkshireman Todd was pegged back in the second game, but his class ultimately shone through in a 11-8 6-11 11-9 11-5 triumph.

Those results meant calculators were required as Curtis Malik took on veteran Nicolas Mueller in the anchor leg.

When the 36-year-old went two games up, things looked bleak for England, but the third game saw the momentum turn decisively. As Mueller grew tired and tense, Malik increased the tempo, taking the third 11-7.

England coach Stuart Crawford had calculated that Malik needed just two further points to put England unassailably ahead. Those were secured, and when the Sussex star took the fourth game 11-8, all doubts were ended and the celebrations began.

Malik reflected: "Nicky came out firing and he wasn't missing anything. Before I knew it I was 2-0 down. It was then a case of getting my mentality right and finishing the match with no regrets. That paid off in the third game and I managed to get the fourth too. I'm absolutely over the moon to get the win for my team."

Earlier, England's women also defended their title, collecting the trophy for the 44th time in 47 European Team Championship campaigns stretching back to 1978.

The platform was laid by second string Hutton's exciting opening victory over Baltayan, the exciting 18-year-old whose shock win over Belgium's Nele Gilis on Friday earned France a place in the final for the first time in seven years.

World no.12 Hutton, winner of the Hamburg Open two weeks ago, soared into a two-game lead. But Baltayan wouldn't give in, saving match ball in taking the third, then saving further match balls in taking the fourth 15-13.

A focused start to the fifth game proved crucial. Hutton surged into a 6-1 lead which she never relinquished, taking the victory 11-5, 11-2, 11-13, 13-15, 11-3 in 56 minutes.

England no.1 Georgina Kennedy polished off victory with a more straight-forward 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 win over Marie Stephan.

"It's always a special week at the Europeans," said Kennedy. "Given that we've won it 40-odd times, there's always big expectation when you're here with the England shirt on.

"We're really lucky with our squad depth that it takes the pressure off a little bit, because you know that if for some reason you don't perform you can rely on your team-mates to get you over the line."

Hutton reflected: "Personally I feel relieved, but as a team, we're buzzing." On her strong start to the fifth game, she added: "That was very important. Nick [Matthew] had a really good chat with me before the fifth. He helped settle my nerves and I found my corners and my rhythm again."

England coach Stuart Crawford said: "I personally love this event, the dynamics of points and games countback is so unique to squash, and it also makes every point valuable."

Catch up on all the results, the live streams from the event and event information here.