Stead inspires Yorkshire to county title

10:11am Wednesday 13th February 2008

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Yorkshire Veterans first team headed south for the culmination of the County Championship season with the aim of regaining their Premier Division title.

Bradford players Mike Stead and Helen Shields featured alongside Keith Rodgers, Richard Lightowler and Tim Dyson, with Stead having a major influence on the outcome.

Yorkshire began the weekend in top spot but only on sets average from Leicester and Kent, with Sussex still in contention just two points behind.

The first day could not have gone any better for Yorkshire with six four victories over Kent and Lancashire.

Stead won all his singles, including a crucial success against England No 5 Keith Williams in the Roses match when he came back from 5-1 down in the fifth game.

With Leicester losing to Surrey, Yorkshire finished the day two points clear.

The final day saw Yorkshire overcome Sussex 6-4 with the whole team contributing to the victory and Stead had a great win over England No 2 Richie Venner.

The last fixture saw Yorkshire face their nearest challengers Leicester and only three sets were needed to take the title.

Rodgers and Lightowler took the opening two singles and Stead completed a tremendous personal performance by beating England No 8 Chris Rogers in straight games to clinch the title for the second time in three seasons.

The rest of the match was an anticlimax as Yorkshire relaxed and Leicester won 6-4 but Stead took his tally to seven wins out of eight.

Tony Theobould Quarter Finals: Laisterdyke A 432, Baildon A 397; Hermits B 440, Highdale D 390; Hermits G 423, Unity D 483; Highdale C 346, Thornbury B 348. Semi-final draw: Laisterdyke A v Hermits B, Unity D v Thornbury B.