CHESHIRE are still determined to win their fifth veterans' table-tennis county championship title in a row despite a disappointing result in the first weekend at St Nicholas RC High School in Northwich.

The team's prediction that their hardest match would be the first one against Kent unfortunately came true.

Without former European champion John Hilton they lost 5-4 to Kent, and although they improved their results in the final two matches on Sunday, beating Yorkshire and Dorset, their fate is now in Kent's hands.

Northwich's Mike Johns, who skippered the Cheshire side, said: "John couldn't play on Saturday and that's when we needed him."

Phil Biggs was brought in as a replacement and played well, but Cheshire missed the experience of Hilton, who might have been able to turn a close loss into a win.

Kent brought in two newcomers, John Burleton and Mark Romera, and Burleton got his side off to a good start by beating Mike Johns.

Matches were then equally divided, but Romera stepped in to clinch the match by beating Biggs in the decider.

Once Hilton was installed, Cheshire's fortunes began to change.

By coming in at No.1, Hilton took the pressure off the Johns brothers, Mike and Brian, and despite Hilton losing a spectacular attacking match against Dorset's Tony Clayton, Cheshire had by then wrapped up the match.

Afterwards, Mike Johns was still adamant that Cheshire could win the title.

He said: "I still feel we have a good chance. Kent are not invincible and if they lose to anyone in the next session we could jump in."

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