Yorkshire teams started well in the NEPl's Northern division last weekend as the opening round of matches took place with wins for both North Yorks and Next Generation York, but the two Cleveland teams involved, Tennis World Middlesbrough and David Lloyd Teesside both lost.

North Yorkshire's Michael Hall, Graeme Parker, Steven Preston and Ian Spears had a 3-1 win away at Tennis World Middlesbrough, who admittedly were very much understrength with a side of four juniors, but more experienced Joe Elder and Richard Love took one rubber as first couple.

York, a new team in the division, had a 3-1 home win over Puma Sunderland and fielded players from South Africa, Australia, County Durham and Yorkshire and under the captaincy of sometime world ranked Marius Barnard should threaten allcomers this season. Stephen Baker and Graham Fowler won one for Puma.

In the third match played David Lloyd Newcastle bt David Lloyd Teesside. They had one international and three Northumberland county players involved and allowed the Thornaby based leisure centre one set only. James Nelson and Michael Ratcliffe were particularly dominant for the home team in their first season.

This season's competition, although it is very much in early days, looks set for a rather different complexion than in previous seasons.

Results: Tennis World Middlesbrough 1, North Yorkshire 3. Joe Elder and Richard Love lost to Steven Preston and Ian Spears 3-6 7-5 5-7, bt Michael Hall and Graeme Parker 5-7 6-4 6-4; Robert Dannat and James Lees lost to Elder and Love 0-6 0-6, lost to Hall and Parker 0-1 1-6.

Next Generation York 3, Puma Sunderland 1. Marius Barnard and Steve Smith bt Stephen Baker and Graham Fowler 7-6 6-3, bt Graeme Clarkson and Joe Valks 7-5 5-7 6-2.