Winter County Cup: Durham and Cleveland men were unfortunate to miss out on promotion with second place in Division 3A by the small matter of just two rubbers from three days of play in Northampton with two wins and one defeat.

Also with two wins were Devon and Buckinghamshire, but D and C had totalled 15 rubbers compared with Devon's 17 and that county took top spot, but had beaten Bucks although that county also had 15 rubbers and so Durham finished runners-up. Durham had just lost to Devon by 5-4, Suffolk were fourth and relegated.

Ben O'Connor and Ainsley Kenshaw gave D and C solid starts in each match as numbers five and six respectively for singles and each finished the weekend unbeaten. The former also won three doubles with Mark Franklin. Nigel Beavers won two singles.

Results:Devon 8, Suffolk 1; Bucks 4 D and C 5; Suffolk 3, Bucks 6; D and C 4, Devon 5; Devon 4, Bucks 5; D and C 6, Suffolk 3.

Adam Barratclough (Esporta Sunderland), Nigel Beavers (Tennisworld Mboro), Mark Franklin (TW), Guy Galpin (ES), Sean Galpin (ES), Ainsley Kershaw (ES), Ben O'Connor (David Lloyd Stockton).

The county ladies had tough luck too. They finished second in group 3b in Birmingham with two wins and one defeat, but neighbours and old rivals Northumberland captured the first place and promotion with a 6-3 success in the final.

Mens Div 3a (Northampton)

Adam Barratclough lost to P Thorne 3-6 6-7; Sean Galpin lost to C Clarke 2-6 3-6; Nigel Beavers bt S Unsai 6-3 6-3; Mark Franklin bt D Gemmen 6-3 1-6 6-3; Ben O'Connor bt S Butler 6-1 6-2; Ainsley Kershaw bt T Stockdale 6-0 6-0; Barratclough and Beavers lost to J Davidson and Gremmen 3-6 4-6; Franklin and O'Connor bt Butler and Thorne 6-2 6-2; Guy Galpin and Kershaw lost to Clarke and Unsai 4-6 4-6.

D and C 4, Devon 5.

Barratclough lost to R Kirkness 6-2 2-6 3-6; Galpin lost to G Drake 1-6 1-6; Beavers lost to D Ahi 1-6 3-6; Franklin lost to S Wood 6-3 3-6 5-7; O'Connor bt N Owen 6-7 6-3 7-6; Kershaw bt J Bartlett 6-1 6-4; Beavers and Galpin lost to Ahi and Drake 4-6 4-6; Barratclough and Kershaw bt Bartlett and Kirkness 6-2 7-6; Franklin and O'Connor bt P Russell and Wood 7-6 6-7 7-5.

D and C 6, Suffolk 3.

Women's Div 3b (Birmingham)

D and C 6, Devon 3.

Lydia Perkins bt K Barthelemy 6-3 6-2; Lynsey Davison bt N Broadbent 6-1 6-0; Laura Bailey lost to N Trelease 3-6 1-6; Libby Fletcher lost to C Knight 7-5 2-6 2-6.; Sarah Harding bt G Loosemore 4-6 6-3 6-0; Joanna Cunliffe bt C Sims 6-2 6-1; I Bailey and L Davison b K Barthelemy and K Broadbent 6-2 6-1; J Cunliffe and L Perkins bt C Knight and N Trelease 6-2 6-3; L Fletcher and S Harding lost to K Gray and S Madge 6-7 3-6.

D and C 6, Hereford and Worcester 3.

L Perkins bt K Miles 6-3 6-2; L Davison bt T Powell 6-0 6-0; L Bailey lost to C Lines 6-7 0-6; S Harding lost to K Fisher 3-6 6-4 2-6; J Cunliffe bt A Richardson 6-4 6-1; Michaela Baker bt J Plant 6-2 6-2; L Davison and L Fletcher bt C Lines and K Miles 6-1 6-3; J Cunliffe and L Perkins bt A Richardson and T Powell 6-1 7-6; M Baker and L Bailey lost to K Fisher and L Fisher 1-6 4-6.

D and C 3, Northumberland 6.

L Perkins lost to N Trinder 1-6 0-6; L Davison bt K McCluskie 6-4 6-4; L Bailey lost to D Armstrong 2-6 3-6; S Harding lost to J Ashbridge 4-6 1-6; J Cunliffe bt L Rawling 6-3 6-2; M Baker lost to H Turnbull 2-6 1-6.