Darlington'S talented juniors began the new season in style at the first of the English Junior Select tournaments held last weekend in Harlow.

Surely England selectors will be turning their heads North after the performance of David Meads. He lost out 6-11 11-8 11-6 13-15 9-11 in the Under-12 boys singles final against Academy inmate Darius Knight.

However, the bare result does not tell the story of a match where the Darlington youngster held no less than seven match points after looking by far the more superior player.

More good results came his way in the Under-14 and Under-17 events where current England No 4 Niv Bogen (Middlesex) was also stretched to the full five sets.

With valuable computer ranking points up for grabs Simon Donnelly, Jonathan de Wind, Andrew Leighton and Chris Madeley all gained brilliant victories over much higher ranked players.

The girls events followed the same pattern. Stephanie Donnelly, 13, almost caused the shock of the tournament as she held two match points against England No 6 junior Gemma Chapman only to lose 12-10 in the final set.

After beating No 1 seed Joanna Hubbard (Kent) in an impressive straight sets in the graded event, Claire Wilson joined team mates Stephanie Donnelly and Joanne Meads in providing the home country's Leah Cheeseman with a third defeat.

Donnelly won in straight sets in the graded singles and Meads knocked the Essex girl out of the main event. Looking favour for the consolation singles she then found Wilson too quick in the quarter-finals as the Darlington girl went on to win the final.

Twelve more Darlington youngsters were in action at Grantham for the Chandlers Junior Open. Mostly new to the open tournament scene they performed with credit. Sarah Robinson reached the final of the Under 12 girls event and Adam Hassan got to the last eight of the Under-12 boys singles.

Helen Dickenson completed a great weekend for the Darlington Junior squad by winning the Cleveland County Trials tournament.

The squad head for Blackpool this weekend for the next junior select tournament and follow that with a trip to Wolverhampton for the opening rounds of the Junior British League.

A repeat of the performance in Essex would see a huge leap up the national ranking lists when they are published at the end of October.