TWO of Yorkshire's veteran teams were in County Championship action and had mixed fortunes at Draycott Table Tennis Centre in Derbyshire.

The over-40s first team and the over-60s second team were both defending champions and the over-40s, who included Simon Pugh, Tim Dyson and Joanna Roberts, began the weekend in joint-top spot alongside Kent, with Sussex and Leicestershire just two points adrift.

Yorkshire made a great start by beating Kent 6-4 to put themselves in pole position and maintained their position with wins over Lancashire and Cheshire.

The final fixture was against Leicestershire, in which a draw would be good enough for the title while a defeat would mean the outcome would be decided on sets.

But misfortune struck when Roberts was injured in the first mixed doubles and had to concede her singles.

Yorkshire were 5-4 behind with the second mixed doubles to play and Sandra Rider stepped in but, with Dyson, they were beaten.

Sussex, meanwhile, were beating relegated Cheshire 9-1 and they, Yorkshire and Leicestershire finished level on points. But Sussex had come through on the rails to take the title by two sets, with Yorkshire runners-up.

The over-60s second team had a smoother ride, with Yorkshire and Oxfordshire both unbeaten at the start of the weekend and being in opposition in the first match.

Yorkshire, who included Richard Priestley, Geoff Dunne, Steve Morris and Sandra Rider, won 7-3 – and wins over Nottinghamshire and Bedfordshire followed to complete an unbeaten campaign.

Bradford League – Division 1A: Unity A 0, Embassy Police A 10. Division 1B: Hermits A 10, Fastbats B 0; Hermits B 5, Highdale B 5. Division 2A: Unity C 8, Hermits C 2; Embassy Police C 1, Laisterdyke A 9; Hermits D 10, Unity D 0. Division 2B: Baildon A 5, Hermits E 5. Division 3A: Unity E 6, Baildon B 4; Hermits I 5, Thornbury 5. Division 3B: Hermits K 4, Fastbats E 6; Hermits L 4, Baildon D 6; Bradford College 6, Hermits J 4.