The youngsters took the honours as Sussex battled it out with London in the county championship.

The youth team pulled off a terrific 23-21 win despite going into the match at Kentish Town two players short and having to concede eight games.

Dean Torode, Liam Nally and John Cairns won all of their four games, while Josh Ives, Adam Bazley and Sam Franco won three out of four and Robbie Clear two.

Torode, Bazley, Nally and Ives also produced a spectacular rescue act as the men's C team snatched a 22-22 draw in their match.

Sussex, fielding seven youth team players, lost the first five games and then trailed 20-10 before hitting back to win 12 of the last 14 games, with Torode, Bazley, Nally and Ives winning the last four.

The other Sussex teams were outgunned, with the men's A team's hopes of winning their section disappearing with a 28-16 defeat.

Morray Dolan and Paul Bailey won three out of four, and there were two wins out of four for Pete Ashman, John Steadman and Paul McNeil.

The B team lost 24-20 after being 13-1 down at one stage, with Doug Howard winning three out of four and Clive Rayson, Nick Pearson, John Robinson, Ady Clark, Simon Showler, John Cairns Snr and Ken Ford two.

The ladies crashed 29-15 after trailing 14-2. There were two wins for Candy Wright, Liz Kyle, Zoi Kakouris, Katie Smith and Sam Seebrook.

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP Division A: London 28, Sussex 16; Kent 24, Hampshire 20; Surrey 30, Berkshire 14.

League placings: (9 matches) London 265pts; Surrey 242; Sussex 235; Kent 228; Hampshire 194; Berkshire 158. Top Sussex player: 24-36 Damian Campsey.

Division B: London 24, Sussex 20; Kent 29, Hampshire 15; Surrey 39, Berkshire 5.

League placings: (9 matches) Kent 297pts; Surrey 276; Sussex 261; Hampshire 210; London 160; Berkshire 103. Top Sussex player: 25-36 Simon Showler.

Division C: London 22, Sussex 22; Kent 28, Hampshire 16.

League placings: Surrey 226pts (7 matches); Kent 196 (7); Hampshire 162 (7); Sussex 135 (7); London 126 (8). Top Sussex player: 10-18 Dan Heale.

Ladies: London 29, Sussex 15; Kent 34, Hampshire 10; Surrey 31, Berkshire 13.

League placings: (9 matches) Kent 294pts; Surrey 272; London 244; Hampshire 218; Sussex 189; Berkshire 98. Top Sussex player: 26-36 Zoi Kakouris.

Youth: London 21, Sussex 23; Kent 27, Hampshire 17.

League placings: Kent 243 (7 matches); Hampshire 192 (7); Surrey 167 (7); Sussex 166 (7); London 56 (8). Top Sussex player: 19-28 Dean Torode.