KENT and young England cricketer Sam Northeast has shown his sporting versatility by lifting the National Public Schools rackets title at the Queen’s Club in London.

Northeast, who lives in Walmer near Deal and attends Harrow School, went into the event as top seed and beat Cheltenham College player and second seed Dan Shiner 5-15,6-15,15-8,15-5,15-1 in a hard-fought final to win the Foster Cup.

Northeast, last season’s losing finalist, trailed two games to love down and was 2-6 behind in the third game before he finally overcame his nerves to win the match for the loss of only eight more points.

The 18-year-old right-handed batsman made his first-class debut for Kent last September in the final game of the season against Durham in Canterbury.