SCOTT Mitchell captained England to Six Nations Cup glory and promptly insisted the achievement ranked alongside his World Championship success in 2015.

The 47-year-old led by example at the event in Wales, chalking up a winning record in all of his country's matches and reserving his best for the final, when the Three Lions thumped Holland 13-4.

It was England's fourth successive Six Nations Cup triumph – and third on the bounce with Bransgore's Mitchell at the helm.

Mitchell told the Daily Echo: "Winning for your country is up with winning the World Championship, without a doubt – no matter what the tournament is.

"You do not want to be the England captain who fails. We have won the tournament 12 times, so that brings a certain amount of pressure.

"It is difficult, as well, when the last captain, Martin Adams, is in the team and suddenly I am captaining him – there is an element of pressure in that."

England overcame Northern Ireland and Wales in the group stage, before disposing of Republic of Ireland to set up the showpiece against the Dutch.

Mitchell admitted he and his four team-mates took a while to get to grips with the competition's format – which sees players take to the stage for a single leg at a time – before hitting their stride at the most opportune moment.

For Mitchell, the victory was even more of a relief for the fact he had dipped out of the singles competition in agonising fashion, losing a last-leg quarter-final decider to eventual winner Kyle McKinstrey.

He added: "We had not played our best up until the final. We were making mistakes as individuals and it was costing us legs and momentum.

"It was fascinating to be part of but we were making it difficult for ourselves and were aware of that.

"It is a definite mind mess – but we got on top of it and got through it in the end.

"All five of us bring something different to the team and I am probably the Steady Eddie. Yes, I will miss a couple of doubles now and again but I will also get a couple of legs against the top players, against the darts, that you don't expect me to get.

"It was a strange weekend for me but very pleasing to have a winning record in all the matches.

"I probably played better in the singles and got nothing for it – but that is darts."