Foster set the tone for his round with an early eagle

England's Mark Foster shot the joint lowest round of the day to earn a share of the halfway lead at the British Masters at the Belfry.

Foster had an eagle at the third on his way to a round of 66 to be alongside Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen.

Derksen followed up his opening round 69 with two late bogeys for a 68.

Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter are in strong contention just a shot behind on a day where strong winds and heavy showers made conditions difficult.

Westwood was talking confidently after adding a 70 to his opening 66 but he bogeyed his last two holes.

He drove into water on the eighth and then into a bunker at the ninth but reflecting on the round as a whole he said: "I'm delighted. I've not played too good here in the past, but I'm very pleased with the position I am in.

"Mark Roe gave me a lesson at the Open and we did some more work on Tuesday. He's given me a lot more variety and much more feel around the greens.

"It's a massive breakthrough and should make a huge difference."

Poulter's round of 71 was interrupted by torrential rain late on and he felt play should have been suspended sooner than it was.

"I didn't like it and it wasn't right - I thought we should have been in a place where we had shelter 20 minutes previous," he said.

Having been tempted to pull out of the event on Wednesday because of tiredness, however, Poulter is now intent on giving it "110%" in a bid to grab his first win of the season the week before he gets married.

Foster was English amateur champion in 1994 and 1995 and a team-mate of Padraig Harrington in the Walker Cup side which beat the Tiger Woods-led Americans 12 years ago.

But he then had to make six trips to the Tour qualifying school and in the seven years since has managed only five top 10 finishes.

"I don't keep mentally good enough for four rounds and I've got to learn to do that," he said.

"My coach - my agony aunt - Pete Cowen listens and tries to put me right, but I've got to learn to be consistent mentally."