IT'S one of the world's great sporting rivalries.

England v Germany is always a mouth-watering prospect and the two countries clashed again in a charged atmosphere at the Eastleigh Beer Festival in the Nightingale Centre.

A shattering blow signalled the start of the tournament - as an English conker smashed into its German counterpart.

Members of Camra - the Campaign for Real Ale - who organise the annual festival brought the conkers back from Germany after finding them in a beer garden.

The third country represented was the Czech Republic, recently visited by more Camra members.

England got off to a cracking start winning the first game of the six-match tournament. But, just like on so many occasions over the years, the Germans wouldn't break and stormed back to take four games. The Czech conkers took one game.