Gloucestershire's women's team suffered the agony of losing the national county final to Yorkshire for the second successive year - and in exactly the same unsatisfactory way.

Both sides were unbeaten at Copt Heath in the West Midlands, just as they were at Brancepeth Castle in Co Durham last year. But Yorkshire triumphed again on points' difference, winning 20 matches to Gloucestershire's 19.

"It is hard to pick yourself up after losing like that again and I am so disappointed for the team," said captain Jenny May.

"But I am convinced we will win in future and the team is improving and maturing. We have some outstanding young players of national standing."

Captain May has enjoyed a sensational record of being unbeaten in the 14 matches in her two years at the helm.

Bristol and Clifton's Sian James, who celebrated her 18th birthday on the second day, has been supreme. She was the only unbeaten player in the finals and has not lost a match in two years.

It coincided with her call up to the England women's senior team for this week's home internationals at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire.

She has been recognised for an outstanding season by being named as one of two reserves - surely a prelude to selection for the full team next year.

Her list of achievements is endless and her progress can traced this season by a handicap that has plummeted from 3 to plus one.

She won her three singles in style, chalked up a vital foursomes win with Linda Carruthers (Broadway) against Yorkshire and halved the other two foursomes.

Knowle pair Joanne Hodge and Hannah Barwood suffered illness and injury problems. Hodge, 19, has forced to step back from tournament play recently as she was suffering from tonsillitis.

But she hit top form, played two matches each day and won four and halved one. Barwood, 16, won all four matches but dropped out twice because of back trouble. So Karen Rix (Bristol and Clifton), the Shirehampton Park secretary, stepped in but lost twice.

Carruthers won three and halved two, Leah Occleshaw (Players Club and Lansdown) won two and halved one, England Mid-Amateur champion Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) gave another fine display and won four and halved one.

Gloucestershire beat Hertfordshire 8.5-0.5 and Cambs and Hunts 6-3. Yorkshire' won 9-0 and 6.5-2.5. Final match was halved 4.5 points each.