PNH Properties Team Chichester lost 3-2 to league newcomers Exeter Diamonds at Chichester Racquets & Fitness Club.

Chichester, last season's national runners-up, were without No1 string Mo Azlan Iskandar, who was injured playing in Europe.

First on court was Chichester's Dominique Lloyd-Walter playing Emma Chorley.

After a tentative start from Lloyd-Walter she took the first game 11-8. She got into her stride to take the next two games to put Chichester one tie up.

No3 string Robbie Temple battled hard against Exeter's Rob Sutherland but ended up losing 3-1 and the match was level.

Next, Peter Genever, Chichester's seasoned campaigner, faced James Snell.

It was a case of experience versus youth in a very competitive match which Genever won 3-1, taking the fourth game on a tie-break.

Team Chichester manager Tim Vail was up against Jonathan Kemp.

It was an uphill task for Vail, with Kemp staying solid to win 3-0.

With the match poised at 2-2, it was left to the No1 strings to play out the decider.

Exeter's Stewart Boswell played Chichester's Alex Gough, who has recently retired from the tour. Boswell secured a comfortable 11-2 win in the first game.

Gough fought back in the second to take it 13-11 on a tie-break before tiring and losing the next two games 11-5, 11-2.

The defeat was a disappointing start for the squad but they remain positive as Iskandar returns for the trip to Guildford in a fortnight.