Northamptonshire’s men made the perfect start to the Anglian League campaign as both the first and second team recorded battling wins in their opening matches with Leicestershire.
The county elite triumphed 7-5 at Luffenham Heath, while the reserves were pushed all the way at Whittlebury Park before edging a thrilling contest by a single point.
After a heavy home defeat to Leicestershire last year - a result which ended their hopes of retaining the title - the Northants first team made a solid start as they drew the morning pairs.
Ryan Evans gave County the lead in the first singles tie, Paul Hodgkiss doubled the advantage with a stunning 6&5 success, while Michael Campbell also won with relative ease.
Although Fraser Carnihan, Kyson Lloyd and Graham Bott suffered losses, debutant Jack Brown and Lewis White kept their nerve to clinch the match with two wins on the 18th hole.
It was a similar story in the reverse fixture as the first three games finished all square, before Leicestershire earned a slender lunch time advantage by winning the last foursomes tie.
Northants, who are the double defending champions, responded well as Tom Anderson took the opening single match, Dan Ashcroft halved, while Miles Mudge strolled in with a 6&5 under his belt.
Debutante Tom Burgh won 3&1, Bob Clayton triumphed on the 18th, meaning James Barker had the pleasure of clinching a first win for new skipper Richard Dalton by halving his game.