Oxfordshire’s youngsters finished a highly satisfactory seventh in the 17-21 Inter County Championships at Hatfield, Hertfordshire.

The Oxon team of Lauren Cooper, Harriet Allen, Nadia Howden, Poppy Bensburg, James Buffham, Will Green, Jonathan Campbell and Chris Lim were hoping to improve on last year’s best ever result of fifth place.

They just missed out on this, but were still content with their display.

They were unbeaten on the first day, when an excellent 5-1 win over Cornwall was followed by a draw with Derbyshire.

The day was rounded off in style with 5-1 hammering of Hampshire.

Buffham finished the day unbeaten in his six games – three singles, two mixed doubles with Lauren Cooper and a men’s doubles with Chris Lim.

These results saw them top their group and through to the knock-out stages of the 21-team tournament.

Their next opponents were Yorkshire, who edged a close tie 4-2.

The in-form Buffham won his singles, and Lim paired up with Nadia Howden to produce an impressive 21-19 13-21 21-13 win in the mixed doubles.

This defeat took them into play-off against Sussex to determine their final placing.

The match was drawn with Sussex pipping them to the post on games countback and taking the coveted fifth spot by just one rubber.

Staffordshire won the title, beating Yorkshire in the final.