COUNTY Durham emerged triumphant as the ETTA national champions at under-15 level when they topped the inter county championships cadets premier division in Grantham last Saturday.

David Meads from Gainford, Darlington boy Mark Simpson, Sunderland brothers Chris and Philip Dixon and two Darlington girls, Samantha McCormick and Sarah Robinson, made history as the first team from the county to achieve a national title. They were undefeated in seven matches to take the title by three points.

Durham already had eight points in the bag at start of play following wins over Derbyshire, Surrey, Suffolk and Lancashire in December. Their nearest rivals were Sussex, who provided the first opposition in Grantham.

This contest turned out to be tighter than expected, but Durham recovered from a difficult start to earn a 5-5 draw. They were 3-0 down before Simpson put the first rubber on the board.

Meads and Simpson brought them level, but the Sussex girls proved too strong once more and Durham needed both the last two games to draw. Meads won his and Dixon finished off for an important point.

The withdrawal of Gloucestershire meant Durham received a walkover before a 7-3 win over Lincolnshire in the final contest.

Even without Meads, who was needed for national training, the team finished off in style.

Simpson won twice, while the Dixons took one each. Miss McCormick was unbeaten and Miss Robinson added one more in an all-round team effort.

With Derbyshire and Sussex drawing, Durham left the rest trailing in their wake to go one better than last season when Surrey pipped them to the title.

They finished with 13 points from six wins and one draw, while Lancashire and Derbyshire were tied in second place with five wins each.

Chief coach Keith Wilson said: "It was a fantastic team performance. The children played with great maturity. In fact, it was like watching adults play."