Against all expectations, the unfancied Durham and Cleveland county squash team produced a major upset in capturing a national title at the weekend - just weeks after contemplating not sending a team to the championships.

A fortnight earlier it looked as though the county would not have a team and a withdrawal had been contemplated, but thankfully Durham and Cleveland got a team together and they reaped the rewards on Sunday by clinching the men's over-35 Premier Division competition - the first time the county has achieved such a prestigious honour.

A defeat of Lancashire by three matches to two in a dramatic final at the National Squash Centre in Manchester afforded the county's Peter Lonsdale (captain), Yawar Abbas, Andy Cross, Ian Williams, Neil Harrison and Leon Kirton, the distinction of being the first group of players for Durham and Cleveland to take the national crown.

The County association is 36 years old and two of its longest surviving members were highly delighted with the magnificent achievement.

English international and past chairman John Shaw from Chester-le-Street said: "It is an absolutely brilliant achievement - especially considering they nearly didn't enter."

World champion Faith Sinclair, from Durham, added: "How splendid. The team deserves many congratulations - and especially since some players were much older than the age group involved."

Captain Lonsdale: "It is unbelievable, what a win! The success was way beyond our wildest expectations."

But the final was a close encounter. The fifth and third string contests were taken comfortably by Lancashire, the northern stage round robin winners in November. Durham and Cleveland had not even one set to show for their efforts.

Lead player Andy Cross from Hartlepool then faced Nigel Willis, runner-up in the recent national championships, at over 35. Willis was confident of success but the contest became closer and the Durham and Cleveland man kept his focus and determination to run out a deserved winner in three sets.

Lancashire were in disarray, especially as Redcar's Lonsdale was battling well in the number four rubber against Alan Day. He took the first set and had almost faded after losing the next two with only five points for himself, but rallied once news filtered that Cross had taken a major scalp.

The Guisborough man swept through set four for the loss of only one point and although 5-3 in the deciding set managed to pull off six points in a row to square the final, after some 75 minutes.

Ian Williams, from Marton, meanwhile had started the final rubber, as second string, and in yet another thrilling conflict took a 2-1 lead after dropping the opening game. He lost the next, and with both colleagues and supporters willing him on, survived the 60 minute battle to clinch the decider by nine points to six, improving the match score to 3-2 and give Durham and Cleveland the title.

Final: Durham and Cleveland 3, Lancashire 2: Andy Cross (Norton) beat Nigel Willis 9-0 9-6 9-6; Ian Williams (Nunthorpe) beat Glen Rajou 1-9 9-2 6-3 3-9 9-6; Neil Harrison (Nunthorpe) lost to Stewart Wardle 5-9 1-9 1-9; Peter Lonsdale (Redcar) beat Alan Day 9-3 4-9 1-9 9-1 9-5; Leon Kirton (Nunthorpe) lost to Mike Tudor 7-9 0-9 3-9.