Britain and Ireland lost the Curtis Cup at the Minikahda Club in Minneapolis last night when the United States of America beat them 10-8 - but the Britain and Ireland team actually won the second and final singles session by a point.

This was the first USA victory since they won at Somerset Hills eight years ago. In the intervening years Britain and Ireland have won two matches and halved the other.

Britain and Ireland's Ita Butler, who led her side to the 1996 success at Killarney, attributed the Americans' success to their chipping and putting, saying: "They holed so many putts, that was really the secret."

The British and Irish actually lost the trophy when Welsh 23year-old Becky Morgan went down by 2 and 1 to Brenda Corrie Kuehn.

That defeat meant the USA had the 9 1/2 points they required to regain the trophy. Earlier British champion Kim Rostron had also lost by 2 and 1 to Kellee Booth.

Booth and Keene won all their four matches, joining an elite group of seven players who have enjoyed that record in the competition.

But there was a success story for Britain and Ireland - 19-year-old Rebecca Hudson, the youngest member of the team who was not played in the opening foursomes on Saturday, won all her three games - finishing with an excellent 2 and 1 success over Robin Burke.

First Day - Foursomes (Brit & Irl names first): K Rostron & E Ratcliffe bt B Bauer & J Chuasiriporn 1 up. K Stupples & F Brown lost to K Booth & B Corrie Kuehn 2 & 1 A Rose & B Morgan lost to R Burke & V Derby Grimes 3 & 2. Singles: K Booth bt K Rostron 2 & 1. B Kuehn bt A Rose 3 & 2. J Chuasiriporn halved with R Hudson. B Bauer bt H Monaghan 5 & 3. J J Robertston lost to B Morgan 2 & 1. C SempleThompson lost to E Ratcliffe 3 & 2. Position after first day: USA 5 1/2 Britain and Ireland 3 1/2. Second Day - Foursomes (Brit and Irl names first): A Rose & B Morgan lost to K Booth & B Corrie Kuehn 6 & 5, F Brown & R Hudson bt B Bauer & J Chuasiriporn 2 holes, K Rostron & E Ratcliffe lost to R Burke & V Grimes 2 & 1.

Singles: K Rostron lost to K Booth 2 & 1, B Morgan lost to B Corrie Kuehn 2 & 1, K Stupples bt C Semple-Thompson 1 hole, R Hudson bt R Burke 2 & 1, F Brown bt J J Robertson 1 hole, E Ratcliffe halved with V Grimes.

Match Result: Britain and Ireland 8 USA 10.