Shaftesbury started the defence of their National Junior League crown with a home win in the Southern Premier Division at Copthall on Sunday, thanks to victories in the last two events, the 2,000m steeplechase and 4x400m relay.

Shaftesbury have lost many of their top performers from last season as they are now seniors, and so a new young team had to meet the challenge. Victory was in doubt until the last two events, the steeplechase and the 4x400m relay.

MATCH RESULT: 1 SBH 315, 2 Belgrave 302, 3 Blackheath 297, 4 Harrow 277, 5 Enfield and Haringey 271, 6 Milton Keynes 197, 7 Crawley 184, 8 GEC 170.

Middle-distance was the great strength. Joe Collins and Richard Williams gave them an 800m double. Andrew Symonds made a welcome return in the 1,500m, finishing second in 4mins 5.9secs, and Daniel Lewis was second in the 3,000m (8mins 58.3secs).

Stephen Day equalled his personal best in the pole vault with 4.40m for a good win. Grant Ritchie had a good day in his junior league debut, as did Greg McEwan, Craig Erskine, and Adam Major.

Bruce Gibb showed his usual level of commitment to team performance.

Once injuries and absenteeism hit the Shaftesbury's BAL team, it was inevitable that the 'B' squad, contesting the opening Southern League match at Tooting Bec, would be weakened, and they had to settle for third place . The team will need reinforcements in many areas before the next match at New River Stadium Haringey, on Sunday, June 18.

MATCH RESULT: 1 Herne Hill 132, 2 Team Solent 115.5, 3 Shaftesbury 98.5, 4 Basildon 89, 5 Cambridge 87.

Their star of the day by the proverbial mile was 19-year-old Graeme Allan, who won his three main events, shot (15.10m), discus (45.23m) and hammer (52.56m) convincingly, and was second in the javelin (48.52m).

Newcomer Delroy McKenzie performed well when second in the 100m in 11.4secs.