Pittard leads the way as Warwicks begin defence

Warwickshire had two wins and a draw in starting the defence of their Inter-County title at Milton Keynes.

They beat Worcestershire 7-3 and Avon 6-4 but drew 5-5 with a strong Essex side.

Jill Pittard, England's No 3 singles player, won eight out of nine matches. She beat Worcester's Elana Johnson 11-4, 11-2, Avon's Julie Stanley 11-3, 13-10 and Essex' s Alison Pearson 11-5, 11-8, won all three mixed doubles with Coventry's Chris Roe and won two ladies doubles with Catherine Grant.

Mark Sellwood and Chris Dakin, having suffered leg injuries in the last 12 months, returned to top form. Sellwood won all three singles matches, dropping only 34 points, while Dakin won two matches against Worcester and Avon.

The 15-year-old Fontaine Chapman, making her full county debut, won one of her three singles matches, beating Pearson 11-5, 11-8.

England international Chris Tonks produced the best mixed doubles performance of his career as he and Catherine Grant beat Worcestershire and England's Simon Archer with Debbie Beeston-Smith 9-15, 15-7, 15-13.

Yorkshire, last season's runners-up to Warwickshire, lead the championship with 24 points. Warwickshire have 18 and Hertfordshire 17. The next round of matches take place at Walsall Sports Centre on December 17 and 18.

Warwickshire's third side continued their excellent form by beating Lincolnshire's seconds 12-3 at St Augustine's, Coventry. Lewis Halsey and Alice Walters had four wins each and were supported with three wins each for Coventry's Sue Lee and Rachel Priddy.

In the Birmingham League, Birmingham University first men's side had wins over Solihull & Shirley I and Broadway II to remain top. Lewis Halsey, with Phil Hammond, and Ivor Griffiths, with Richard Wrigley, were unbeaten in a 7-2 win over Solihull while Simon Pearce and Steve Kirkby took the honours in a 6-3 win over Broadway II.

The Four Oaks quartet of Karen Haywood, Kelly Sharmen, Andrea Harvey-Hall and Trish Capewell whitewashed Cocksmoors I 6-0.

Central's Dave Bugden and Graham Brown did best in a 5-4 win over Cocks Moors I.

Four Oaks I remain on top of the division after a 6-3 victory over APNA 1. Poplar enjoyed an 8-1 win over Solihull & Shirley III.

Warwickshire's over-40 veterans were 10-2 winners over Shropshire I at St Augustine's, Coventry. Kenroy Harrison, Tim Ward, Nick Pettman, Linda Callender and Jackie Latham had three wins each.